The State Department has issued a proposed rule to revise USML Category VIII (aircraft and related items) to narrow the articles controlled on the USML, and to make this list of items more positive. At the same time, BIS issued a proposed rule to create five new 600 series ECCNs to control articles removed from Category VIII that would instead be controlled by the CCL. The State Department is also not proposing any tiering at this time, and is still developing its definition of "Specially Designed." BIS is also modifying its July 2011 proposed rule regarding the eligibility for License Exception STA, among other things.
The Justice Department has announced that five individuals and four of their companies have been indicted as part of a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. that allegedly caused thousands of radio frequency modules to be illegally exported from the U.S. to Iran. At least 16 of those items were later found in unexploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq. Some defendants are also charged in a conspiracy involving exports of military antennas to Singapore and Hong Kong.
The U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments on China’s February 28, 2011 request for World Trade Organization consultations with the U.S. concerning antidumping measures regarding certain frozen warmwater shrimp from China, in particular its use of “zeroing.”1,2
The Administration’s FY 2012 budget request for the Commerce Department would provide $8.8 billion in discretionary funds, a $5 billion reduction from the FY 2010 enacted level. However, the request would increase funding for certain activities, such as those associated with the President’s National Export Initiative.
The Bureau of Industry and Security announced that Emenike Charles Nwankwoala, a Maryland probation officer, was sentenced on January 3, 2011, to 37 months in prison in connection with a scheme to export guns and ammunition to Nigeria.
The Department of Energy announced that Energy Secretary Chu joined seven other Government agencies on December 7, 2010, in launching the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative, a coordinated effort to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency exports.
On July 22, 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing on exports entitled “Transshipment and Diversion: Are U.S. Trading Partners Doing Enough to Prevent the Spread of Dangerous Technologies?”
On May 19, 2010, the U.S. and Mexico issued a declaration agreeing to take on a number of 21st century border management activities with respect to trade and security:
On May 12, 2010, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Iran Sanctions: Why Does the U.S. Government do Business with Companies that Invest in Iran.
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that on April 30, 2010, it certified 38 nations and Hong Kong as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp and products of shrimp (shrimp) into the U.S.