The State Department on Oct. 17 sent a proposed rule for interagency review that could make changes to certain registration fees under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. An agency official said earlier this month the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls was preparing to soon propose changes to those fees (see 2310120063).

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will be “migrating” to the “FedRAMP High instance of a multifactor authentication solution” in its Defense Export Control and Compliance System to improve security, the agency announced this week. DDTC said all users should log into DECCS “which will ensure that your account information and passwords are automatically synced with the new upgraded instance.”

Intelligence officials from U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand met with industry officials and academics this week to discuss ways to improve security guardrails around emerging technologies, said the FBI, which organized the meetings. The talks included officials from each of the Five Eyes countries and were held near Silicon Valley as part of the first Emerging Technology and Securing Innovation Security Summit, which the FBI said will help government and industry discuss threats to innovation and coming trends in the use and exploitation of emerging technology, and find “means to work together to advance both economic security and public safety.”

The U.S. and Singapore this week committed to collaborate across a range of critical and emerging technology areas and vowed to “promote candid and sustained exchanges on risks, opportunities, and key national security implications associated” with the six areas, including artificial intelligence, digital economy and data governance, biotechnology, critical infrastructure and technology supply chains, defense innovation and quantum information science and technology. Marking the inaugural U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue in Washington, the two sides said they plan to promote “research collaboration” in emerging AI, biotech and quantum applications.

The Defense Department is seeking public comments as it considers negotiating a new defense procurement agreement with India, the agency said in a notice. The agency said it’s “evaluating India’s laws and regulations in this area” and “would benefit from U.S. industry’s experience in participating in Indian public defense procurements.” DOD is specifically seeking information about whether those procurements were “conducted with transparency, integrity, fairness, and due process in accordance with published procedures, and if not, the nature of the problems encountered.” Comments are due by Nov. 9.

DOJ is looking to apply its recently revamped corporate enforcement principles “across the entire Department,” including in cases involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said during an event last week held by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. Monaco said companies “should expect more to come on this topic” as DOJ extends its policies “beyond the criminal context to other enforcement resolutions -- from breaches of affirmative civil case settlements to violations of CFIUS mitigation agreements or orders.”

The Federal Maritime Commission last week dismissed a charge complaint against Mediterranean Shipping Company lodged by SOFi Paper Products after MSC refunded SOFi for a congestion surcharge that allegedly violated U.S. shipping regulations. The FMC also determined no violations "of the Shipping Act were proven in this proceeding."

The State Department approved a potential $2.8 billion military sale to Spain for “PATRIOT Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units” and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 4. The prime contractors will be Raytheon Corp. and Lockheed Martin.

The State Department approved a potential $70 million military sale to Oman for “TOW 2B Radio Frequency Missiles (BGM-71F-7-RF) and Support” and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 3. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

The Commerce Department is asking companies to use its Semiconductor Alert Mechanism, which collects reports on chip supply chain disruptions so the government can look to address those issues, including with trading partners. The agency said it’s “calling on companies, manufacturers, and other interested parties to submit information regarding any new, ongoing, or potential disruptions to microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing facilities and their related supply chains around the world,” adding that it “will review submissions on a rolling basis and will follow up with parties as needed.”