The Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is to meet at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17 in the bank's Main Conference Room 326, 811 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public. Further information: Exa Richards, 202-565-3455.

At the request of Sanderson Farms, Inc., a North American Free Trade Agreement panel review was launched on countervailing duties on the import into Mexico of chicken leg quarters from the U.S., according to a Federal Register notice scheduled for Dec. 5. The request was filed with the Mexican Section of the NAFTA Secretariat pursuant to Article 1904 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The NAFTA Secretariat assigned Case Number MEX-USA-2012-1904-01 to the review.

Exporter confidence retreated from its spring rebound due to renewed concerns about the global economy and Europe's fiscal struggles, said a semi-annual survey of Canadian exporters and investors released by Export Development Canada (EDC). "Since the fall of 2009, bullish exporter sentiment in the spring has given way to pessimism in the fall every year," said EDC Chief Economist Peter Hall. "Volatility is also likely a by-product of global pessimism, which has prompted quick overreactions to negative developments." But he said: "Given the pitiful state of global confidence, Canadian exporters remain surprisingly upbeat."

International sales by U.S. retailers over Black Friday and Cyber Monday more than tripled, said data released by FiftyOne Global Ecommerce. U.S. retailers have increasingly positioned themselves to expand their reach and grow sales beyond their U.S. borders, especially during the critical holiday shopping season, it said. Among the most active countries buying from U.S. retailers during the period were Colombia, Israel, Ireland, Mexico, South Korea, Russia and China, it said.

The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a final rule, effective Sept. 19, to amend the Export Administration Regulations by adding two persons from Pakistan to the Entity List and modifying one existing entity from the United Arab Emirates. The rule also corrects citations in part 744 of the EAR to reflect the most recent Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Weapons of Mass Destruction, issued Nov. 1. The persons being added to the Entity List have been determined by the U.S. government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the U.S. Persons can include companies or individuals.

The Bureau of Industry and Security proposed its long-expected “clean-up” of the Commerce Control List (CCL), in a rule scheduled for publication in the Nov. 29 Federal Register. The proposed rule follows a December 2010 request for comments on how to make descriptions of items controlled on the CCL clearer. ECCNs in all categories of the CCL, as well as its basic structure, would be affected by the proposal. Most of the changes would be non-substantive and would provide additional guidance to people classifying items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), BIS said. Comments on the proposed rule are due by Jan. 28.

The Bureau of Industry and Security announced a partially open meeting of the Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC) Dec. 12-13. At the open session Dec. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET, the ETRAC will hear an overview on export controls for new members, and discuss the 521 ECCNs (not elsewhere listed on the Commerce Control List), 3D bio-printing, a National Academy of the Sciences nanotech initiative, a rare earths study, and additive manufacturing. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 40 participants on a first come, first served basis. To participate, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov, no later than Dec. 5.

The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. approved a $37.6 million direct loan to support exports by McDermott International Inc. and give American suppliers of natural gas compression equipment and technology for a U.K. energy project off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. Under the loan terms, the bank will support exports of U.S.-only goods and services to a $150 million project to build and install and gas compression system on the existing Hibiscus Platform off the Northern coast of Trinidad. McDermott International Inc. will provide engineering, equipment procurement, nit fabrication, transportation, heavy lift and installation, Five U.S. suppliers will make or provide components, for the project: SOLAR Turbines (San Diego, CA); Hudson Products Corporation (Sugarland, TX); AWC Inc. (Houston, TX); Gulfex Inc. (Houston, TX); and Point Eight Power (Belle Chasse, LA).

The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is opening a 25-day comment period on an application for final commitment for a long-term loan or financial guarantee in excess of $100 million, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Nov. 23. Comments are due by Dec. 18 to WWW.REGULATIONS.GOV.

The Bureau of Industry and Security said the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) will hold a partially open meeting Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. ET. The public session will include an export enforcement update, regulations update, working group reports, an Automated Export System (AES) update, and presentations of papers or comments by the public. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 25 participants on a first come, first served basis. To join via teleconference, submit inquiries by Nov. 28 to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov. A limited number of seats will also be available for the public session.