The U.S. Trade Representative was due to submit by September 2, 2009, his recommendation to President Obama on whether to grant relief to union workers in the form of additional duties on imported tires from China. Although the President has 15 days to decide the issue, trade sources expect him to make a decision before the deadline. This case is of interest to other industries as it will be President Obama's first Section 421 decision, and it was brought by a union rather than domestic industry. (USW press release, dated 09/02/09, available at http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0382 )
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a proposed rule to add equipment designed for executions to the Commerce Control List, to provide additional illustrative examples of torture items and other weapons, and to adopt a definition of torture used in 18 USC 2340(1)1.
The Bureau of Industry and Security recently posted its "Annual Report to the Congress for Fiscal Year 2008" which summarizes the activities of BIS in FY 2008. Excerpts of BIS' annual report include:
The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted its critical technology assessment of five axis simultaneous control machine tools.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued an advisory opinion regarding the license exception for operators under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 1A007, which controls equipment and devices, specially designed to initiate charges and devices containing energetic materials, by electrical means.
The Census Bureau has posted to its Web site the July 2009 issue of its Automated Export System (AES) Newsletter. Highlights of Census' AES Newsletter include:
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective July 6, 2009, which amends the Export Administration Regulations to implement Australia Group1 decisions which were recommended at the October 2008 Intersessional Implementation Meeting and adopted in December 2008. The final rule also amends the list of countries that are currently States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System (AES) broadcast regarding its plans to add new edits on ECCNs, special comprehensive licenses, and certain license exceptions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective July 2, 2009, amending the Export Administration Regulations to list GE India as the first validated end-user in India approved to receive exports, reexports and transfers of certain items under Authorization Validated End-User (VEU).
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective May 22, 2009, which recalibrates export controls on uncooled thermal imaging cameras to address security and competitiveness issues.