The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began reviewing a final Bureau of Industry and Security rule concerning Sudan. The rule, received by OIRA Dec. 3, would revise the Export Administration Regulations to reflect the U.S. rescission of Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism (see 2011020012).

Doug Hassebrock, the Bureau of Industry and Security's top enforcement official responsible for national security issues, retired last month. Hassebrock served as the deputy assistant secretary for export enforcement and left in early November, BIS official Hillary Hess said during a Dec. 8 Commerce Department technical advisory committee meeting. Kevin Kurland, director of BIS’s Office of Export Analysis, is acting in Hassebrock’s role, Hess said. A BIS spokesperson didn’t comment.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The U.S. and Ecuador signed a phase one trade agreement that goes beyond the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement with requirements for online publication of customs information and customs brokers requirements; duties and fees; electronic submission of customs declaration and phytosanitary certificates; a single window for import and export; and advanced rulings that cover classification, valuation, origin, and application of quotas. Ecuador also agreed to no penalties on minor errors, unless they're part of a consistent pattern, and a procedure to correct errors without penalties.

The Commerce Department will not publish its long-awaited proposed regulations on routed export transactions (see 2007150044) this year and is experiencing delays on other rules, including another set of export controls from the 2019 Wassenaar Arrangement, a Commerce official said. Hillary Hess, the Bureau of Industry and Security’s regulatory policy director, cited a combination of internal BIS delays and a backlog at the Federal Register for the slowdown.

Following reports that President-Elect Joe Biden will be nominating House Ways and Means Chief Trade Counsel Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative, Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer hailed the decision.“This is a fantastic pick from President-elect Biden. Katherine Tai has played an invaluable role leading the Ways and Means staff while working with members and outside groups on the renegotiated NAFTA and other critical trade issues," said Blumenauer. "She’s knowledgeable, patient, creative, and will be the first woman of color to hold this important job."

Kenya is expected to begin a new sea cargo clearance system this month, which will accelerate clearance times at the Mombasa port, according to a Dec. 2 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The new system will allow for “automated online cargo clearance processing and documentation” submissions, HKTDC said, cutting processing times by as much as 60% “when fully implemented.” It will also allow goods to travel more quickly to their final destination by providing real-time tracking of the cargo once it leaves the port. The report also said “accidental cases of cargo diversion” should “become a thing of the past.”

The European Council adopted amendments to its value-added tax regulations to allow member states to suspend VATs on certain products and services related to treating the novel coronavirus, the council said Dec. 7. The decision will allow member nations to temporarily exempt VATs or apply a “reduced rate” on COVID-19 vaccines, testing kits and “closely related services.” The measures apply only to vaccines authorized by the European Commission or member states and test kits that comply with European Union regulations. EU member states unanimously adopted the new rules, the commission said, which will give members “better and cheaper access” to the products. The amendments will apply until Dec. 31, 2022.

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, the American Chemistry Council and Asociación Nacional de la Industria Química are asking that Mexico join Canada and the U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council to discuss regulatory conformity for chemicals. The three groups sent a letter on Dec. 4 to Mexico's economy minister, Canada's international trade minister, and the U.S. trade representative.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Dec. 7 (some may also be given separate headlines):