The World Customs Organization Secretary General, in a speech before the Customs Union Group of the EU Council on January 7, 2010, stated that the WCO's priorities for 2010 would include: (1) effective implementation of risk management techniques, (2) the establishment of a strong Customs-business partnership, (3) support for the "Globally Networked Customs" initiative, (4) the strengthening of border management and (5) the implementation of a Single Window system (by adopting, among other things, the WCO Data Model). (Report, dated 01/07/10, available at http://www.wcoomd.org/speeches/?v=1&lid=1&cid=2&id=194)

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective December 23, 2009, which amends certain requirements in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that apply to Albania and Croatia due to their accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 1, 2009.

CBP has posted a summary of changes to the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) that is effective December 15, 2009. Appendix F - License and License Exemption Type Codes - was revised to include the following ECCN changes: C35 - add 1D008 and C38 - delete 4D003. The AES Downtime Guidelines were also updated. (Changes, posted 12/18/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/aes/tech_docs/aestir/june04_intro/june04_summary_of_chngs.ctt/june04_summary_of_chngs.doc)

The Census Bureau has issued an Automated Export System (AES) broadcast regarding the Bureau of Industry and Security's adjustment, effective December 11, 2009, of the AES edits on certain Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) and AES License Types C35 - LVS and C38 - TSR as a result of its December 11, 2009 final rule implementing certain Wassenaar Arrangement revisions.

The White House has issued a press release announcing the issuance of an Executive Order on the half-day closing of all executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government (except as provided in the Executive Order) on December 24, 2009. (Press release, dated 12/11/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-half-day-closing-executive-departments-and-agencies-thursday-decemb.)

At the December 9, 2009 meeting of the Bureau of Industry and Security's Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee, BIS officials discussed a variety of issues, including:

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective December 10, 2009, which revises a number of entries on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to implement certain editorial revisions agreed upon by the Wassenaar Arrangement Task Force on Editorial Issues (TFEI) to the Wassenaar List of Dual Use Goods and Technologies.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective December 11, 2009, which revises the Export Administration Regulations to implement changes to the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar List) as agreed upon in the December 2008 Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary Meeting.

CBP has posted a summary of changes to the Automated Export System Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) that is effective December 2, 2009. Appendix F - License and License Exemption Type Codes was revised as follows: ECCN Information updated to include missing ECCN numbers (C36 - 3C005 and 3C006; C37 - 4A003, 3C005, 3C006). (Summary, posted 12/03/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/automated/aes/tech_docs/aestir/june04_intro/june04_summary_of_chngs.ctt/june04_summary_of_chngs.doc)

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective November 9, 2009, which amends certain Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) under the Export Administration Regulations to reflect changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Annex.