A group of Senate Republicans criticized the State Department’s decision this month to renew the U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement for another five years, saying it gives “cover” to universities, businesses and others to continue research cooperation with entities tied to the Chinese government.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is asking users of SNAP-R, the agency’s export application submission system, to verify that the email address in their user profile is correct and valid to prepare for upcoming “enhancements” to the SNAP-R system. BIS said it’s planning to replace users’ current log-in ID with their email address “to enable the required two-factor authentication procedures.” It said users should update their profiles with a “unique” email address by Jan 31.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Dec. 30 released quarterly reports on certain licensing activities for Iran and Sudan, covering the period from October 2022 through September 2024. The reports provide licensing statistics for exports of agricultural goods, medicine and medical devices to both countries as required by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.
Space industry associations and companies largely welcomed a recent State Department proposal to modernize U.S. space-related export controls, although they asked for several clarifications, fewer export control guardrails and an extended timeline to allow space firms to update their compliance programs.
Covington lawyers expect the upcoming Polish presidency of the Council of the EU, running from January to June, to make “significant strides” around technology and trade issues, the firm said in a December client alert.
The Netherlands said it’s seeing an uptick in exports of sanctioned goods to countries with a history of helping Russia evade sanctions, with many of those exports being sent by smaller firms that entered the market within the last couple of years.
The EU this month issued new guidance on its sanctions for importing Russian diamonds, describing the types of diamonds subject to trade restrictions, explaining how the restrictions apply to jewelry that incorporates Russian diamonds, outlining a new mandatory diamond traceability mechanism, and more.
China’s Ministry of Commerce is extending the investigation period for its antidumping duty probe on brandy from the EU until April 5, according to an unofficial translation of a Dec. 25 notice. China previously said it expected to conclude its investigation by Jan. 5 (see 2401050068), but it needs more time “in view of the complexity of this case.” Beijing imposed temporary duties on EU brandy in October (see 2410080021), and the EU soon after formally requested dispute settlement talks at the World Trade Organization (see 2411250014).
A nationwide injunction stopping the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements from taking effect was reinstated last week, making it so certain companies won't have to comply with the law's reporting rules next month.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the 2025 hourly rates it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime and holiday inspection and identification, certification and laboratory services. Effective Jan. 12, the agency's base time rate will be $73.04, and its overtime rate $89.68. The 2024 holiday rate will be $106.32, and the laboratory rate will be $105.68. FSIS said the export application fee will be $4.83 per application, up 82 cents from last year's fee.