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DPAS Amendments Finalized, effective August 21

The Bureau of Industry and Security is finalizing amendments to its Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) regulation as originally proposed on February 7, 2024 with minor technical amendments. This final rule is effective August 21, 2024. This final rule clarifies existing standards and procedures by which BIS may provide Special Priorities Assistance (SPA); revises Schedule I to provide transparency and differentiation between other departments' priorities jurisdiction and the Department of Commerce's jurisdiction; and provides technical edits to reflect certain non-substantive updates since the DPAS regulation was last amended in 2014.

Bill to Include Japan in AUKUS

A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation aimed at expanding the Australia- United Kingdom-United States partnership to include Japan in order to combat the growing threat of China. The Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act directs the two AUKUS coordinators at the U.S. Departments of State and Defense to engage with Japan, and consult with counterparts in the U.K. and Australia, at technical level to better understand how Japan could augment the partnership and what steps Japan might need to take in order to engage quickly and meaningfully in AUKUS advanced technology projects.

BIS: Wassenaar: Interim Rule on Gas Turbine Engine Components etc.

During the December 2022 Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (WA) Plenary meeting, Participating States of the WA made certain decisions affecting the WA dual-use and munitions control lists, which BIS is now implementing via amendments to the CCL. BIS seeks comments on restricting STA eligibility for countries in EAR Country Group A:5 of certain technology for the development of supersonic aero gas turbine engine components controlled under ECCN 9E003.k, formerly controlled under ECCN 9E001 as part of its ongoing assessment of current export control licensing policy.

DDTC Issues New ITAR Compliance Risk Matrix

The Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) is issuing a new ITAR Compliance Risk Matrix, accompanied by a supplemental risk matrix specific to universities. These risk matrices are intended to assist organizations in assessing their level of ITAR compliance risk and assist in the evaluation of potential compliance risks that are specific to each organization and that, if left unaddressed, may lead to ITAR violations. The new risk matrices are available for download on the DDTC website.

Uncle Joe Meets Uncle Ho

President Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam met in early September and initiatied a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," a status Vietnam reserves for its closest partners, emphasizing peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam remains categorized as a "non-market economy," and is treated less favorably under US anti-dumping law. Removal of this designation is a priority ask from Hanoi, although it hasn't materially slowed growth in exports to the US.

HFAC Dems Call for Freeze to Egypt Military Funds

House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks together with 10 Minority Representatives of the Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Blinken calling on the Biden Administration not to certify the human rights conditioned portion of foreign military financing (FMF) for Egypt this year given Egypt’s failure to meet the criteria as outlined in law.

Blue Lantern End Use Monitoring Report

The Blue Lantern program, managed by the Country and End-Use Analysis Division (CEA) of the Department of State, is designed to ensure the security and integrity of U.S. defense trade. The …

ITAR / USML Revision on Technological Progress

The US Department of State is removing certain high-energy storage capacitors from the United States Munitions List (USML) as they are widely available internationally and do not provide a critical military or intelligence advantage.

Defense Offsets Reporting due June 15

For the next annual offset report reflecting calendar year 2022 data, U.S. firms must submit the required information on offsets agreements and transactions from calendar year 2022 to BIS by June 15, 2023.

DoD to Require Contractors to Document Exports

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a requirement for certain contractors to provide export authorizations to the Defense Contract Management Agency.

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Vol 45 No. 15 April 14, 2025

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Solar Import Duties to 3,521%

The U.S. Department of Commerce has concluded its investigation into solar panel imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, determining that these imports were sold below fair market value and benefited from unfair subsidies. As a result, the Department has imposed antidumping and countervailing duties, with rates varying by country and company.

Can the WTO survive Trump?

The stakes for the WTO’s future are teeteringly high. Economists warn that Trump’s attempts to bypass the organization and bargain bilaterally with dozens of countries – in breach of the “most favored nation” rule meant to ensure all member states share the same trade advantages – risk unravelling the multilateral system the organization was established to uphold.

State Dept. Warns of Using Chinese Networks

A confidential State Department memo obtained by Nextgov/FCW and Defense One advises U.S. diplomats to warn international partners against doing business with Chinese satellite communications providers, citing risks of espionage and military exploitation by Beijing. The memo also addresses the geopolitical implications of relying on U.S.-based satellite services, notably SpaceX’s Starlink.

Iran Propane Trader Sanctioned

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Iranian liquified petroleum gas (LPG) trader Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, his son Meisam Emamjomeh, and their global network of companies and vessels for facilitating the export of Iranian LPG and crude oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Hungarian Sanction Reversed

The United States on April 15 lifted sanctions imposed in January on the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet, Antal Rogan, over accusations of corruption and cronyism. Rogan was sanctioned January 7th for public corruption which "is affecting Hungary's decision-making on issues that impact the security of the United States of America and our allies."

America First Trade Policy Reports In

On April 3, 2025, the Trump Administration announced the America First Trade Policy Report, a 24-chapter document addressing U.S. trade imbalances, non-reciprocal practices, and national security concerns. The reports themselves were not made public, rather the White House released a brief summary of the report, noting that chapters include reviews of unfair foreign trade practices, renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and assessments of foreign currency manipulation and existing trade agreements.

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