Companies moving export-controlled goods should generally require customers to fill out end-user and end-use statements for all transactions, even if the shipments are for less sensitive EAR99 items, Commerce Department officials said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding 82 entities, mostly in China, to the Entity List, it said in two final rules released March 25. One notice, effective March 25, adds 11 mainland China-based companies and one Taiwanese company for trying to illegally buy export-controlled items for the country’s military or for having other ties to Chinese military end users. Another notice, effective March 28, will add 42 entities in China, 19 in Pakistan, four in the United Arab Emirates, three in South Africa and two in Iran for a range of reasons that are “contrary to the national security and foreign policy” of the U.S., including some for contributing to China’s quantum technology capabilities.
A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. that ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) violated the terms of a service contract and unjustly assessed millions of dollars in demurrage and detention fees, according to an FMC notice released March 21.
Ethiopia hopes to join the World Trade Organization by the 14th Ministerial Conference, which will take place in March 2026, the WTO said. During a March 19 meeting of the WTO Working Party on Ethiopia's accession, the country said "its goods offer commits the country to bound rates -- maximum tariffs -- lower than those" found in the benchmark for least developed countries for the agricultural sector.
The State Department approved a possible $100 million military sale to Saudi Arabia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said last week. The sale includes "Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems" and related support. The principal contractor will be BAE Systems.
The Federal Maritime Commission is asking for public comments on an information collection related to ocean common carriers that are subject to the FMC’s regulations. The notice said these controlled carriers must ensure that they don’t maintain rates or charges in their tariffs and service contracts “that are below a level that is just and reasonable; nor establish, maintain, or enforce unjust or unreasonable classifications, rules, or regulations in those tariffs or service contracts that result or are likely to result in the carriage or handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and reasonable level.” Public comments are due April 23.
The Federal Maritime Commission is warning government contractors about “fraudulent solicitations” sent via email from people pretending to be from the FMC. The commission urged companies to check emails for an address that ends in “@fmc.gov.” Emails that don’t end in “@fmc.gov” means “the address did not originate at the Federal Maritime Commission,” it said.
Sponsors of a recently reintroduced House bill that could lead to sanctions on certain foreign telecommunications firms are looking into several potential avenues for getting the legislation passed, a congressional aide said March 21.
The European Commission on March 20 issued new guidance for its ban that blocks EU people and companies from carrying out transactions with certain “infrastructure” in Russia, including seaports and airports. The frequently asked questions clarify the types of transactions that are either prohibited or exempt; specify that the ports can be used for the transit of certain coal and other commodities to the EU; outline how the EU may assess possible violations; describe reporting requirements; and more.
Senior Bureau of Industry and Security officials haven’t yet been given orders by the Trump administration on several key export control policy issues, including possible plans to soon relax export controls against Russia, multiple Commerce Department officials said last week.