International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for May 22-26 in case they were missed.
The Trump administration’s FY 2018 proposal of $36 million to fund NTIA “will assist” with “development and implementation of policies to meet challenges related to Internet openness, privacy, security, and the digital economy,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in written testimony before House appropriators Thursday. Ross didn’t note this is a cut in NTIA funding -- FY 2017 funding was about $39.4 million, lower than the $50.9 million the Obama administration requested. Cuts will portend challenges for its spectrum and broadband work.
The Trump administration’s FY 2018 proposal of $36 million to fund NTIA “will assist” with “development and implementation of policies to meet challenges related to Internet openness, privacy, security, and the digital economy,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in written testimony before House appropriators Thursday. Ross didn’t note this is a cut in NTIA funding -- FY 2017 funding was about $39.4 million, lower than the $50.9 million the Obama administration requested. Cuts will portend challenges for its spectrum and broadband work.
Despite the near elimination of an account for ACE development in the proposed fiscal year 2018 budget (see 1705230031), CBP is requesting additional funding for ensuring the system continues to operate smoothly, according to its FY 2018 budget justification (here). The proposed budget includes an “increase of $45.1 million” in FY 2018 for “ACE Core Functionality,” including funding for additional “software sustainment teams.” CBP is also requesting substantial increases in funding required to implement mandates in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.
A slew of steel industry executives urged Trump administration officials to take action against steel imports in its ongoing Section 232 investigation during a May 24 Commerce Department hearing, as foreign industry and government representatives pleaded for a more measured approach. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during the hearing said that his department is working to conclude the investigation by the end of June, much sooner than the legal deadline of 270 days after the administration’s April 19 launch of the investigation, which would allow the administration to assess tariffs, quotas or other import restraints if the examination finds steel imports endanger national security (see 1704200029).
As companies like Amazon and UPS test drones to make package deliveries, industry representatives will testify at a House Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing Tuesday that government needs to give companies more leeway in experimenting with emerging technologies in delivering services.
As companies like Amazon and UPS test drones to make package deliveries, industry representatives will testify at a House Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing Tuesday that government needs to give companies more leeway in experimenting with emerging technologies in delivering services.
As companies like Amazon and UPS test drones to make package deliveries, industry representatives will testify at a House Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing Tuesday that government needs to give companies more leeway in experimenting with emerging technologies in delivering services.
The FCC will vote June 22 on a proposal to create a special “Blue Alert” emergency alert system code for notifications about threats to law enforcement, Chairman Ajit Pai announced Friday at a news conference at the Department of Justice. Operating similar to an Amber Alert, the new code “would be used by authorities in states across the country to notify the public through television and radio of threats to law enforcement and to help apprehend dangerous suspects,” said an FCC news release. “My proposal would give state and local authorities that option to use a dedicated alert code to send the warnings to the public, broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline video networks,” Pai said. The draft NPRM was circulated to the eighth floor Thursday, Pai said. Twenty-seven states already have blue alert plans, but the FCC proposal would create a “nationwide framework” that states could adopt, the release said. The FCC’s Blue Alert proposal stems from federal legislation, the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, the release said. The act, “directs cooperation with the FCC,” and is being implemented by DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, the release said. “The COPS Office has expressed the need for a dedicated EAS code for Blue Alerts,” the release said. The Blue Alerts may provide extra warning for police and enable them to defend themselves or catch dangerous criminals, said acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief Tom Homan at the news conference, saying Friday was “a good day for law enforcement, a better day for American communities.”
A lack of clarity on "a unique identifier for supply chain operators crossing borders" is limiting the potential for trusted trader programs internationally, CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said during a May 17 speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Supply Chain Summit. "We've been working so hard to recognize Authorized Economic Operator programs globally with partners, we've entered into Mutual Recognition Agreements, we're intending to expand them," but "they are not having dramatic operational value for our trade partnership," he said. McAleenan has been pushing to standardize unique identifiers (see 1612020024).