Applications to become a panelist on a state-to-state dispute settlement panel for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or on a specialized labor panel, will be due by April 20, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a notice.
The Commerce Department is seeking comments on an information collection relating to voluntary self-disclosures of violations of the Export Administration Regulations, according to a notice in the March 19 Federal Register. Commerce is preparing to submit the collection to the Office of Management and Budget for review. Comments are due no later than April 20.
The Commerce Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to voluntary self-disclosures of antiboycott violations, according to a notice in the March 19 Federal Register. Commerce is preparing to submit the collection to the Office of Management and Budget for review. Comments are due April 20.
The Census Bureau is asking that all data requests and voluntary self-disclosures be submitted electronically in password-protected files, Census said in a March 18 emailed notice to industry. Census said it will continue responding to calls and emails from industry as “many” of its officials telework due to the coronavirus pandemic response, but said disclosures should be sent to the Trade Regulations Branch at emd.askregs@census.gov and data requests should be sent to the Data User & Trade Outreach Branch at gtmd.outreach@census.gov. They can also be faxed to (301) 763-8835. Census will have “limited access” to physical mail during this time.
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 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.