A July proposal to add nearly 60 military bases to the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (see 2407090003) shows that sensitive real estate issues are “top of mind” for the committee, said Matt Miller, an executive with data discovery firm HaystackID.
Public comments are due Aug. 19 on a Treasury Department proposed rule that would add 59 military bases across 30 states to the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. The rule, which Treasury previewed earlier this month (see 2407090003) but was officially published in the Federal Register July 19, also proposed to increase the scope of transactions CFIUS can examine for land purchases near eight other military bases, amend the definition of “military installation” and make other technical changes to the list of bases.
DHS published its spring 2024 regulatory agenda for CBP with only one new trade-related action mentioned. The department listed a new proposed rule that could mandate electronic export manifest for all cargo leaving the U.S. by ocean vessel.
The FCC Precision Agriculture Task Force will meet in person Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. at FCC headquarters, a notice in Tuesday's Federal Register said (see 2401310010). Attendees will hear updates from working group leadership and discuss the task force's executive summary for its report to the FCC about facilitating broadband deployment on agricultural land.
The FCC deactivated its disaster information reporting system (DIRS) for Hurricane Beryl at Texas' request, the agency announced Sunday. Communications providers will no longer need to report the status of cellular networks in DIRS in connection with this event. The FCC said it will continue monitoring the status of communications services and work with providers and government partners to support remaining restoration efforts in the area. The Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative remains in effect for the areas of Texas that Hurricane Beryl struck when it reached land July 8.
The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:
The U.S. sanctioned three more Israelis and five more Israeli entities for their involvement in violence or threats of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Among the designations are Isachar Manne and the Manne Farm Outpost, which the State Department said Manne established on land belonging to Palestinians. The agency also sanctioned Reut Ben Haim and Aviad Shlomo Sarid -- leaders of the group Tzav 9, which the U.S. sanctioned in June for blocking aid to Gaza (see 2406170030) -- as well as Lehava, Meitarim Farm, Hamahoch Farm and Neriya’s Farm. The U.S. has previously sanctioned Israelis for violence against Palestinians (see 2404190045 and 2403140019) after President Joe Biden signed an executive order in February authorizing those sanctions (see 2402010053).
The FCC Enforcement Bureau removed K20 Wireless and its CEO, Krandon Wenger, from the commission's list of providers participating in the affordable connectivity program. In addition, it barred them from participating in any successor program. On Tuesday, the bureau denied K20 and Wenger's request to stay its removal order following a May order claiming they "engaged in serious, willful misconduct in violation of multiple ACP rules." In an investigation, the bureau found K20 "changed the non-tribal residential addresses associated with subscribers to false addresses on tribal lands when it transferred the subscribers to its ACP service." Providers receive a greater subsidy when tribal households are offered the benefit. A proposed $8 million fine was not imposed in the removal order (see 2405100032).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on July 9 granted a joint stipulation of dismissal from the U.S. and exporters led by Risen Energy Co. on the 2017 review of the countervailing duty order on solar cells from China. The government appealed the Court of International Trade decision siding with Risen on the agency's land benchmark calculation and use of adverse facts available pertaining to China's Export Buyer's Credit Program (see 2312200026). Gregory Menegaz, counsel for Risen, said that the U.S. sought the dismissal, suggesting it was due to the "bad facts" for the U.S. in the review (Risen Energy Co. v. U.S., CIT Consol. # 20-03912).
The Treasury Department is proposing to add 59 military bases across 30 states to the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., a move the agency said would “vastly expand the reach” of CFIUS powers over sensitive foreign purchases of U.S. land. Treasury is also proposing to increase the scope of transactions it can examine for land purchases near eight other military bases, amend the definition of “military installation” and make other technical changes to the list of bases.