The Defense Department’s new National Defense Industrial Strategy doesn't advocate for broad acquisition reform or significant new legislation, but it does show DOD plans to use existing authorities for several acquisition-related initiatives, including improving the Foreign Military Sales program, Wiley Rein said Jan. 19.
The U.S. government’s enforcement actions last year show that it’s “very apparent” that export controls are a “major priority” for the Biden administration, and that will continue this year, risk intelligence firm Sayari said this month.
U.S. and Chinese officials met in Beijing last week for the third meeting of the two countries’ Financial Working Group, where they discussed “financial stability” and international financial institutions, including anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism controls. “U.S. officials also frankly raised areas of disagreement during the conversations,” the Treasury Department said in a readout of the meeting. Both sides agreed to continue meeting regularly, and Treasury said Secretary Janet Yellen "looks forward to a return visit to China at the appropriate time.”
The State Department approved a potential $75 million military sale to Kosovo, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Jan. 11. The sale includes Javelin missiles and related equipment, and the prime contractor will be the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
The Pentagon should improve its end-use monitoring of defense exports to Ukraine, the Defense Department's inspector general said in a new report this month.
The State Department recently approved three potential military sales worth more than $550 million combined, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is extending the public comment period for an information collection involving import and end-use certificates, its delivery verification procedures and its firearms entry clearance requirements. The certificates are obtained by the foreign importer and transmitted to the U.S. exporter, BIS said, and the delivery verification certificate, which the agency requires as part of its export control program, must be completed by the ultimate consignee when the goods are delivered. BIS said the firearms entry clearance requirements are “necessary” due to the 2020 shift in export control jurisdiction of certain defense items from the State Department to the Commerce Department (see 2001170030). BIS is allowing for another 30 days of comments from after the notice is published on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.
The Bureau of Industry and Security completed a round of interagency review for a proposed rule that could make clarifications and updates to the Defense Priorities and Allocations System Regulation, which is used to prioritize certain defense-related contracts and orders. BIS sent the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Oct. 17, and the review was completed Jan. 8.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended the public comment period for an information collection involving rated orders under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System. The system is used to prioritize national defense contracts and orders to support the U.S. military or “emergency preparedness,” and in some cases, provide military or critical infrastructure assistance to foreign nations. BIS is allowing for an additional 30 days of public comments following the publication of the notice on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.
USDA is accepting applications from exporters for its upcoming trade mission to India, the agency's Foreign Agricultural Service said this week. The April 22-25 trade mission will feature meetings with Indian importers, market briefings on the region, “relevant” site visits in New Delhi and opportunities to speak with USDA officials.