The Council of the European Union reached an agreement on a new set of rules relating to exchanges of value-added tax payment data, which will help detect tax fraud in cross border transactions and simplify reporting obligations, the council said Nov. 8. The new rules will allow EU countries to collect electronic records of “payment service providers” and will create a new “central electronic system” for processing by anti-fraud officials. The measures are expected to increase compliance with EU VAT obligations, the council said.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Nov. 8 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

Japan and South Korea will hold a second round of World Trade Organization consultations on Nov. 19, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Nov. 8. The two countries will meet in Geneva to discuss their ongoing trade dispute, which stems from Japan’s July decision to restrict exports of three chemicals used to make high-tech goods such as smartphones and semiconductors (see 1907010020). South Korea followed with its own set of export restrictions in August (see 1908120036). The first WTO meeting took place Oct. 11 (see 1910100043).

The State Department approved a potential military sale to the United Arab Emirates worth about $830 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a Nov. 7 press release. The sale includes 10 CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters, 26 engines, 24 navigation systems, 12 missile warning systems, 20 “mini guns” and 20 machine guns, the DSCA said. The principal contractors are Pennsylvania-based Boeing Helicopters Aircraft Company, Arizona-based Honeywell Engine Company and Alabama-based Science and Engineering Services.

The Congressional Research Service issued a Nov. 7 report on the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., detailing issues surrounding the board’s previous lack of a quorum. The report also describes the bank's leadership, funding and the main issues in the bank’s reauthorization debate.

Two congresswomen are asking for more signatures for a letter that applauds the Commerce Department’s decision to place eight Chinese technology companies on the Entity List and urges the administration not to make concessions on the list in trade negotiations.The letter, written by Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., and Ann Wagner, R-Mo., to be sent to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, also urges the State Department to impose sanctions on China for its oppression of the Uighur population.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet Dec. 4, beginning at 1 p.m., in Washington, CBP said in a notice.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control amended a Nicaragua-related designation on its Specially Designated Nationals List, according to a Nov. 8 notice. The changes include updated identifying information for Roberto Jose Lopez Gomez, who was sanctioned by OFAC on Nov. 7 for corruption along with two other Nicaraguan officials (see 1911070035).

The State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program is working well, a senior State Department official told reporters Nov. 7. The program was most recently used by the agency to offer up to $15 million for information that may further disrupt the U.S.-sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (see 1909040055). The State Department announced the reward in hopes that it will lead to more sanctions as it continues its maximum-pressure campaign against Iran.

NEW YORK -- Moises Kalach, leader of the Mexican Coalition for USMCA and vice president of a textile conglomerate in Mexico, said his organization has met with 172 House offices and 30 Senate offices, and has particularly targeted 94 House Democrats -- from border states, moderates, Hispanics, pro-free trade, or on the Ways and Means Committee (many members fit more than one category).