The U.S. trade representative has had “no conversations” with China about possible delays in agricultural purchase commitments due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to coronavirus guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The guidance, which includes a series of frequently asked questions to address virus-related concerns for traders and others who have been impacted, said no delays under the U.S-China phase one deal are expected. “We expect that the Chinese will meet their commitments under the agreement,” the USDA said.
The State Department issued notifications of proposed export licenses to Congress as required by the Arms Export Control Act, the agency said in a notice in the March 16 Federal Register. The notifications include details about each proposed export license, including the goods involved, the destination and the value of the shipment.
The State Department said the top five exporting and importing countries of “pseudoephedrine and ephedrine” have cooperated with the U.S. or taken steps to comply with the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, according to a notice in the Federal Register. The countries include France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, China, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
China recently took “several additional actions” (see 2002250055) to meet its agricultural purchasing commitments under the phase one U.S.-China trade deal, including lifting restrictions on imports of nectarines and beef, and updating lists of approved U.S. exporting facilities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a March 10 news release. The USDA also pointed to China’s recent announcement of its tariff exclusion process (see 2002180039), including new exclusions for imported U.S. hardwood products. “These implementation measures are promising steps showing that China is taking steps to fulfill their purchase commitments,” Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. Perdue expects China to begin fulfilling its agriculture-related purchase commitments by the summer (see 2003040029).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is endorsing a new veterinary certificate for dairy exports to Japan, the agency's Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report released March 3. The certificate has been updated to meet a new requirement made under Japan’s Food Sanitation Law, which takes effect June 1, the report said. Japan will accept both the previous and the updated version of the certificate until May 31.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls rescheduled its in-house seminar scheduled for April 8 to April 29, the agency said March 4. The notice said this is due to scheduling conflicts. The agency also said it is extending registration for the seminar by one week. Availability remains “first come, first served.” Questions should be directed to DDTCInHouseSeminars@state.gov.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Poland worth about $100 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a March 4 news release. The sale includes 180 Javelin missiles and related equipment. The prime contractors are the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture.
The Commerce Department will hold the first meeting of its Emerging Technology Technical Advisory Committee May 19, the agency said in a notice in the Federal Register. The committee will focus on identifying emerging technologies with dual uses for potential control by the Bureau of Industry and Security, which is working on restricting exports of both emerging and foundational technologies (see 2002040057). The first meeting is expected to feature remarks from BIS management. The meeting was originally scheduled for December and January before being delayed both times due to issues getting members their security clearances (see 2002240033).
The Commerce Department launched a portal for department guidance documents, the agency said in a March 4 notice. The portal provides all Commerce guidance issued, by individual agency, including the Bureau of Industry and Security.
The Commerce Department issued a correction to its final rule that revised the country groups for Russia and Yemen under the Export Administration Regulations (see 2002210031), the agency said in a notice. The notice corrects the rule to “provide an instruction” to remove Yemen from Country Group B, which was the intention of the rule.