The AESDirect system will be down July 14 from 1 to 5 a.m., and again July 15 from 1 to 5 a.m., for required system maintenance, the Census Bureau said in AES Broadcast # 2012042. As such, the AESDirect system will not be available for EEI filing. Census said exporters should file their shipments prior to these outages if possible.

The State Department issued the official notice detailing its statutory debarment of Pratt & Whitney Canada in connection with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s conviction for its assistance to China in developing a military attack helicopter. The company will be prohibited for a period of at least 3 years from participating directly or indirectly in the export of defense articles, including technical data, or in the furnishing of defense services for which a license or other approval is required, State said.

The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) will host an Automated Export System Compliance Seminar and an AESPcLink Workship in Virginia Beach, VA on July 24-25, the Census Bureau said in AES Broadcast # 2012040. At the seminar on July 24, Census experts will cover the filing requirements of the Foreign Trade Regulations, Schedule B classification requirements, and provide an overview of AES. On the second day, July 25, two AESPcLink Workshops will be conducted. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of this message.

Effective immediately, the Port of Unlading Code for Port Itapoa in Brazil has been added in the Automated Export System, the Census Bureau said in AES Broadcast # 2012041. The new code is 35180. All AESPcLink users must update their AES code tables to reflect the update to the Ports of Unlading. Users of AESDirect who file via the website at www.aesdirect.gov will have their code tables updated via the program automatically, said Census. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of this broadcast.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is asking for comments on feasibility of automatic calculation of shipping tolerances for BIS licenses in the Automated Export System on the basis of a flat percentage applied to the dollar value of all controlled items, as opposed to the current shipping tolerances calculated on the basis of dollar value, number, or area, weight or measure. BIS said it is considering this action in order to harmonize the Export Administration Regulations with the State Department’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which applies a flat 10% shipping tolerance on dollar value to all defense articles and automatically calculates these shipping tolerances for DSP-5 licenses in AES.

The State Department is removing its restrictions on exports and imports of defense articles and services to or from Yemen, it said in a final rule set for publication on July 3. Effective July 3, licenses or other approvals for exports or imports of defense articles destined for or originating in Yemen will be reviewed, and may be issued, on a case-by-case basis, it said. The final rule removes 22 CFR 126(u), added August 8, 2011 by a State Department final rule, which provided for a policy of denial for the export of lethal defense articles and services to Yemen.

The Export-Import Bank authorized a $75.7 million loan guarantee for Líder Taxi Aéreo S.A.—Air Brasil that will support the export of three Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-92® helicopters to Brazil. Ex-Im Bank 's support enabled Sikorsky to win the order in competition with government-backed European competitors and will sustain approximately 500 jobs at the company’s facilities in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, the bank said. Brazil is one of Ex-Im Bank’s nine key markets and accounted for $2.7 billion of the bank’s worldwide credit “exposure” at the end of fiscal 2011, it said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security announced a July 20 open meeting of the Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC). At the meeting, the ETRAC will hear an export control update, discuss dual use areas of concern, hear an update from the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration, discuss emerging encryption technology and its implications for researchers, and hear public comments. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first serve basis. To participate, submit inquiries to Ms. Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov, no later than July 12.

The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a final rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), effective July 2, to implement the understandings reached at the June 2011 plenary meeting of the Australia Group. The final rule amends the following 4 ECCNs: 1C351 (Human and zoonotic pathogens and “toxins”); ECCN 1C353 (Genetic elements and genetically modified organisms); ECCN 2B350 (Chemical manufacturing facilities and equipment); and ECCN 2B352 (Equipment capable of use in handling biological materials).

The Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) proposal to establish a rate index for certain cargoes subject to the Shipping Act would violate the service contract confidentiality provisions of the Act and the commission’s own current regulations, the World Shipping Council (WSC) said. “That fact alone requires that the rate index proposal be abandoned,” the Council said in comments on the commission’s notice of inquiry (NOI) to develop and release container freight rate indices for U.S. agricultural exports based on a sampling of service contracts filed with the FMC.