The Commerce Department is asking for applications by Jan. 8 to participate in the 2017 International Buyer Program (here) and International Buyer Program Select (here). Through the program, Commerce selects domestic trade shows which will receive agency assistance in the form of global promotion in foreign markets, providing export counseling to exhibitors, and providing export counseling and matchmaking services at the trade show. This round of applications is for trade shows taking place in calendar year 2017.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 23:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 19:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 18:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 17:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 16:
The International Trade Administration released another set of product-specific analyses for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, outlining export opportunities the pact provides to U.S. energy products, machinery and transportation equipment sectors. This batch follows a set of reports released on chemicals, consumer goods and services (see 1511090019). Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker pledged to roll out more than a dozen such reports in remarks made over recent days (see 1511130012). TPP’s slashed duties are poised to boost U.S. exports of renewable energy, power generation and power transmission equipment (here), as well as agriculture and construction equipment (here) and railway and aerospace products (here), the reports say.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is asking for stakeholder comments on implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, a pact that includes 175 countries globally, and the affect the CWC has had on U.S. trade in “Schedule 1” chemicals during calendar year 2015. “Schedule 1” covers dozens of high-risk chemicals (here). BIS is asking for comments to prepare its annual report to Congress on whether “legitimate commercial activities” are negatively affected by the CWC, BIS said in its notice (here). Comments are due Dec. 14 and may be submitted via www.regulations.gov, docket number BIS-2015-0039, email, fax or physical mail.
The Bureau of Industry and Security amended the Export Administration Regulations to classify XBS Epoxy System products under Export Control Classification Number 0C521 on the Commerce Control List. Those products are now controlled for regional stability Column 1 reasons, BIS said in its interim final rule, which takes effect on Nov. 16 (here). XBS Epoxy Systems are “designed to obfuscate critical technology components against X-ray and terahertz microscopy imaging attempts.” The agency is asking for comments on the XBS Epoxy System by Jan. 12 via www.regulations.gov, docket number BIS-2015-0043, or by email and mail. This interim final rule also makes technical corrections to aircraft wing folding systems “software” and related “technology” in the EAR. Those references are now obsolete due to regulatory changes, said BIS.
The Bureau of Industry and Security revised an error made in its recent final rule on the removal of Special Comprehensive Licenses which incorrectly cut requirements for Office of Management and Budget Control number 0694-0152. BIS finalized the SCL rule in September, eliminating the exporter ability to consolidate exports and other activities, such as project, distribution, service supply, service facilities, aircraft and vessel repair station procedures, and special chemical handling, under one license (see 1508250016). The agency replaced number 0694-0152 with the intended number 0607-0152, it said in its final rule (here). That number relates to the Automated Export System (here). The new rule is final on Nov. 16.