The State Department asked for comments on an information collection related to requests to change end-user, end-use or destination of hardware information for exports, according to a notice. The requests, using Form DS-6004, are submitted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls before the sale is made. The Office of Management and Budget requested “emergency review and approval” of the collection, the State Department said, adding that comments “must be received” by April 29.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (RevCon), which was expected to include a discussion on export controls on weapons proliferation (see 2003030058), was postponed due to the measures involved in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 27 notice from the State Department. The agency said it supports the decision to postpone the conference and will “work constructively with other NPT Parties to maintain and strengthen the Treaty, including at the RevCon when conditions allow it to be held.”
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The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security is working on guidance to help industry comply with the expanded licensing requirements for exports to China announced earlier this week (see 2004270027). The guidance will address new restrictions on exports intended for military users and uses, said Matt Borman, Commerce deputy assistant secretary for export administration. The rule expands the definition for military end-use and will cover military end-users in China, placing more of a compliance burden on industry.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended a Burma-related sanctions listing, according to an April 27 notice. OFSI updated the listing for Than Oo, who is still subject to an asset freeze. In a related action, the European Union renewed sanctions against Burma for one year until April 30, 2021, according to an April 24 notice.
CBP issued frequently asked questions about exports of personal protective equipment, detailing how exporters submit letters of attestation; how exporters will be notified of held shipments; the resolution process on disagreements surrounding restricted shipments; and more, according to an April 27 CMS message. The guidance comes about one week after the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued 10 exemptions for exports of PPE (see 2004200019). FEMA expects to issue most determinations on PPE shipments within two days (see 2004210022).
The Commerce Department amended the Export Administration Regulations to expand licensing requirements for exports, re-exports and transfers of items intended for military uses in China, Russia and Venezuela, according to a notice. The rule expands the licensing requirements for exports to China to include military end-users as well as military end-uses, broadens the list of items subject to the licensing requirement and review policy, and expands the definition for military end-use. The rule also “creates a new reason for control” and review policy for certain exports to the three countries, and added new Electronic Export Information filing requirements.
The Commerce Department eliminated its license exception for civil end-users (CIV) in an effort to cut exports to countries pursuing civil-military fusion (see 1904260018), the agency said in a notice. The change, which was expected for nearly a year (see 1907180037), will remove authorizations to export certain controlled items to most civil end-users for civil end-uses in Country Group D:1. The change takes effect June 29.
The Commerce Department is considering restricting the number of destination countries that are authorized to receive certain U.S. re-exports that are controlled for national security reasons, the agency said in a notice. The proposed rule would amend the license exception for Additional Permissive Reexports (APR) by removing nations in Country Group D:1, including China, from being eligible to receive those re-exports, Commerce said. The rule would remove APR license eligibility from more than 20 countries. Comments are due June 29.
The United Kingdom’s Export Control Joint Unit updated its export license application forms for firearms, according to an April 23 notice. The forms now include a “supplementary EC4 form,” which is a “continuation sheet” for the EC3 form. The EC3 form is required for exporting firearms to European Union countries.