The United States has indicated it's willingness to discuss a comprehensive proposal tabled by a large majority of developing and least-developing countries on making special and differential treatment simple and effective at the World Trade Organization more

The RAPTAC received a briefing by Damien Spleeters, Conflict Armament Research, on chains of supply of components found in Russian and Iranian weapons used in Ukraine, and his organizations outreach to industry. more

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee held a marathon open session Tuesday, with a particular emphasis on the microelectronics supply chain.

Next up, a team from the Strategic Radiation Hardened Electronics Council discussed collaborative efforts across agencies and industry to ensure survivable electronics, terrestrial and in space.

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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. more

The State Departement designated of the former Director of the Paraguayan Civil Aviation Authority, a current member of the Paraguayan Panel for the Discipline of Judges and Prosecutors  and … more

Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending and reissuing the Belarus Sanctions Regulations, sanctioned a Burmese aviation fuel broker, and updated the SDN List. more

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published its first set of guidance materials to aid the public, and in particular the small business community, in understanding upcoming beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements taking effect on January 1, 2024. more

In testimony to the Senate Committee on Finance Thursday, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai fended off bipartisian criticism of the Administration’s diplomatic priorities and process,  Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) kicked off the meeting calling for “ramped up enforcement.. stronger, faster-acting enforcement tools like the Rapid Response Mechanism, more

Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a rule Wednesday adding 32 parties in eleven countries to the Unverified List (UVL).    more

Comments sought for rule prohibiting CHIPS Act funding from benefiting "countries of concern." To ensure that funding provided through this program does not directly or indirectly benefit foreign countries of concern, the Act includes certain limitations on funding recipients . . . more

Evan Broderick Acting Executive Director of the Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) program at BIS discussed the OICTS, a rapidly growing enforcement activity that set up shop last March.

“The program started with the 2019 Order 13873. that is the Supply Chain EO as it's commonly referred to. It is essentially said that the secretary of commerce can prohibit or mitigate ICTS transactions: information and communications technology transactions that used data in transferred from and linked to a foreign adversary."

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Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four entities and three individuals in Iran and Turkey for their involvement in the procurement of equipment, including European-origin engines of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in support of Iran’s UAV and weapons programs. more

This month the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released their annual update on international arms transfers. The data revealed that imports of major arms by European states increased by 47 per cent between 2013–17 and 2018–22, while the global level of international arms transfers decreased by 5.1 per cent. Arms imports fell overall in Africa (–40 per cent), the Americas (–21 per cent), Asia and Oceania (–7.5 per cent) and the Middle East (–8.8 per cent)—but imports to East Asia and certain states in other areas of high geopolitical tension rose sharply. more

A new report from the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlights that last year was record-breaking across a range of indicators. more

Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released a notice of proposed rulemaking for the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (CHIPS ITC) established by the CHIPS Act of 2022.

“By providing detailed eligibility guidance for this tax credit, we’re equipping taxpayers with the clarity and certainty they need to make investments that will increase semiconductor manufacturing and strengthen America’s semiconductor supply chain,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. 

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Commerce Tuesday released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the guardrails intended to ensure technology and innovation funded by the CHIPS and Science Act is not used for malign purposes by adversaries. more

The US Court of International Trade on Friday sided with the Administration in a challenge raised by over 3,600 companies against Section 301 tariffs imposed on a wide array of Chinese products. more

The US Trade Representative’s Office tabled negotiating texts on labor, environment, digital trade and technical assistance at the second round of negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic … more

Current Export Controls threaten the "seamless collaboration" envisioned by the AUKUS agreement, according to politicians and researchers alike. more

Bipartisan legislation to beef up the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism was introduced last week. The legislation – the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act – would create a pilot program to strengthen the C-TPAT program within Customs and Border Protection. more