The World Customs Organization rescheduled its Authorized Economic Operator conference to Feb. 15-17, 2021, it said in a news release. The event was previously scheduled for next month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “To ensure the success of the Conference in view of the prevailing global circumstances, Dubai Customs and the UAE Federal Customs Authority proposed to the WCO to postpone the Conference,” the WCO said.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade on Feb. 20 released its Strategic Export Controls Training Bulletin for March to June 2020. The bulletin contains information on upcoming export control training events, courses and forms for registration.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade is no longer allowing traders to register for an open general export license that allows exports and transfers of goods relating to the “A400M collaborative regime.” according to a Feb. 20 notice. The license only remains available for traders who registered before Oct. 17, 2019, the DIT said. The license permits exports and transfers of goods, software and technology used for the production and maintenance of the A400M aircraft, for the end-use of certain partner nations and “agreed export customers,” the DIT said.
Vietnam introduced tax exemptions for certain imports related to coronavirus prevention, according to a Feb. 20 report from CustomsNews, the mouthpiece for Vietnam Customs. The exemptions, announced this month, apply to companies importing raw materials to make virus-fighting goods, the notice said, such as raw materials used to make medical masks. If companies import raw materials using the tax exemption but do not use the goods for purposes related to preventing the spread of the coronavirus, they must submit a new customs declaration and pay “all taxes” on the import, the notice said.
While auto parts, LCD panels and pharmaceuticals are most concentrated in the Chinese province where the coronavirus epidemic began, a recent Congressional Research Service report noted that quarantines are affecting port staffing, which can affect all shipments from China. “Business reopening has been uneven across sectors and locations in China. Many firms are awaiting government approvals to reopen and are facing difficulties in meeting new operating requirements, such as providing masks for employees,” the report said. Because passenger air traffic has been curtailed to and from China, there is much less space for air cargo shipments.
Indonesia officially ratified its free trade agreement with Australia (see 2001220042) and the two countries have discussed a 100-day implementation plan for the deal to take effect during the first half of 2020, according to a Feb. 18 post from KPMG. Under the deal, more than 99% of Australian agricultural goods to Indonesia will benefit from duty-free access or “significant preferential treatment,” KPMG said. The deal will also “virtually” eliminate tariffs on Australian exports of energy goods, and Indonesia will “guarantee the automatic issuance of import permits” for Australian agricultural and steel goods. In addition, Australia will eliminate all duties on Indonesian goods, KPMG said.
Vehicles being exported from New York may face delays and may be “de-pritotized” for export due to recent state legislation, according to a Feb. 6 CBP press release. The legislation, the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, restricts CBP’s access to certain criminal history information recorded by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency said, which will affect its Vehicle Exports Program. The change will affect vehicles titled in New York “when supporting documents cannot be authenticated through information sharing with New York DMV,” the notice said. “We recognize that many New York residents and businesses will be negatively affected by this change, but we cannot compromise the safety and security of our homeland,” CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement. “When states take negative measures that hinder our ability to protect our great country, we must respond.”
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Feb. 19 issued two frequently asked questions that provide guidance on U.S. people exporting defense services abroad. The FAQs clarify guidance for exporters who “believe they may be currently furnishing defense services without authorization,” DDTC said.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control released two new Frequently Asked Questions related to its reporting, procedures and penalties regulations (see 1906200036), according to a Feb. 20 notice. The FAQs provide updated instructions and “incorporate” new requirements for filing reports with OFAC on blocked property, unblocked property and rejected transactions.
A Texas businessman and former procurement officer for Venezuela’s state-owned and sanctioned energy company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., was sentenced to 70 months in prison after scheming to secure corrupt PdVSA contracts, the Justice Department said in a Feb. 19 press release. Alfonzo Eliezer Gravina Munoz laundered the proceeds of a bribery scheme involving U.S.-based companies and Venezuelan government officials in exchange for contracts with Citgo Petroleum Corp., a Houston-based subsidiary of PdVSA, the Justice Department said. Munoz was also ordered to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.