Automakers, chipmakers and broad business groups asked the Bureau of Industry and Security to give their industries more time to adjust to new requirements to move supply chains out of China and report on what companies are in their connected vehicle supply chains.
A new rule change by the Bureau of Industry and Security will subject a broader range of chemical mixtures to declaration requirements, including for export or import. The revisions, outlined in a final rule that takes effect July 3, lowers the concentration threshold level at which mixtures containing certain controlled chemicals are subject to the declaration requirements. The change brings the U.S. Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations “into further alignment” with guidelines adopted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2009, which established the lower concentration threshold limit for certain chemicals.
Alvarez & Marsal Taxand hired Michael McGee to lead the consultancy's new Global Trade and Customs practice, it said in a May 12 news release. McGee was previously the global director of International Trade Regulations at BP America. “The political landscape and the pandemic have led to more regulations, increasingly complex tax regimes and the need to redraw supply chains. As a result, there is greater demand for expert tax advisory services, including for global trade and tariffs and duties,” said Ernesto Perez, managing director of the Houston firm. “In line with A&M’s leadership, action, results approach, A&M Taxand is responding to the shifting business environment by expanding and strengthening specialized tax services to maximize value for clients.” A&M said McGee has “expert knowledge of U.S. Customs Law, Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations, Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control, and Department of Commerce Antiboycott Regulations.”
China reportedly ordered its state-controlled companies to stop buying certain U.S. agricultural products after the U.S. certified last week that Hong Kong no longer qualifies for special trade treatment. The decision also came after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will sanction Chinese officials, increase export controls on dual-use technologies, and end the special customs territory in response to Beijing’s so-called national security law (see 2005290047), which the State Department said threatens Hong Kong’s autonomy (see 2005270026).
The Commerce Department should make clear who involved in the import process might be subject to the proposed procedures for how to review transactions that involve information and communications technology and services (ICTS) and are seen as a potential threat, the Express Association of America said in comments. The Commerce proposal is meant as a way for the government to oversee transactions, including importations, seen as risky (see 1911260032). Comments on the proposal were due Jan. 10 and were posted in Commerce docket 2019-0005.
The International Trade Today editorial team today announced the launch of a new information service, Export Compliance Daily, that will deliver a concise, daily email summary of global export regulatory developments, in-depth PDF edition and full website access at exportcompliancedaily.com beginning on March 5th, 2019.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is amending the Export Administration Regulations to reflect changes to the international Missile Technology Control Regime agreed to in 2017. The changes affect the following Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) on the Commerce Control List: 1B117, 1B118, 1C111, 1C118, 2B109, 2B120, 2B121, 2B122, 6A107, 7A105, 7A107, 7A116, 9A012, 9A101, 9A115, 9A515 and 9A610. The amendments take effect Aug. 30, though any shipments already loaded, on the dock for loading or already onboard a carrier to a port of export or re-export that now require a license as a result of this rule may still be exported or re-exported without a license until Oct. 1, BIS said.
The Commerce Department will reduce the number of military and high-tech items that will require licenses for export to India, Secretary Wilbur Ross announced July 30. India will be moved into Tier 1 of the Strategic Trade Authorization license exception program. "STA Tier 1 treatment, comparable to NATO allies, will expand the scope of exports subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that can be made to India without individual licenses," Commerce said. It estimated that there was $9.7 billion worth of exports to India over the last seven years that required licenses and would no longer require licenses under the new classification.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding export licensing restrictions for several Chinese companies, adding them to its “Entity List” as a result of their illicit procurement and risk of diversion of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end-use in China, BIS said. Effective Aug. 1, new restrictions on licenses and license exceptions for dual-use goods under the Export Administration Regulations are added for the following companies and subordinate institutions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security and the State Department are publishing concurrent proposals to reorganize export controls on firearms, accessories and ammunition. Under the proposed rules, non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms up to and including caliber .50 (12.7mm), as well as shotguns with a barrel length of 18 inches or less, would no longer be controlled under the International Traffic in Arms regulations, and would instead be added as dual-use goods to the Commerce Control List. Comments are due July 9.