The Congressional Research Service on Oct. 29 issued a fact sheet on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The sheet includes key statistics about the history of the act, how it enforces certain export controls and which countries are subject to IEEPA regulations.

In the Oct. 23 issue of the CBP Customs Bulletin (Vol. 53, No. 38), CBP published notices that propose to revoke or modify rulings and similar treatment on the application of Jones Act coastwise laws to certain merchandise and vessel equipment that are transported between coastwise points. The Jones Act limits activities by foreign-flagged vessels around the U.S. CBP said consideration will be given to any written comments received by Nov. 22 before taking this action.

The Agriculture Department's Agricultural Marketing Service released new rules on domestic hemp production that do not contain regulations for exports, it said in a notice. "The 2018 Farm Bill allows for the interstate transportation" but "does not affect the exportation of hemp," it said. "Should there be sufficient interest in exporting hemp in the future, USDA will work with industry and other Federal agencies to help facilitate this process."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is leading a trade mission to West Africa to try to expand markets for U.S. exporters, the USDA said in an Oct. 25 press release. The trade mission includes Stephen Censky, deputy secretary of agriculture, and officials from more than 40 U.S. companies and trade groups. USDA will travel to Ghana and will hear from buyer groups based in Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal. The USDA released a report on the opportunities for U.S. exporters in West Africa (see 1910250023) and recently returned from a trade mission to Vietnam (see 1910180052).

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to disclosures of the Arms Export Control Act, according to an Oct. 28 notice. In a summary of the information collection, the State Department said it has developed a “discrete form” for submitting voluntary disclosures “as part of an IT modernization project designed to streamline the collection and use of information by” the Directorate of Defense Trade controls. The form will allow DDTC and submitters “to more easily track submissions,” the notice said. Comments are due Nov. 27.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report Oct. 25 on prospects for U.S. exporters in West Africa, saying certain countries in the region are unable to meet agricultural demand and present “plenty of opportunities” for U.S. exporters. The countries include Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. The report contains detailed trade analysis and key agricultural trade prospects for each nation, including which exports have the most potential. While the USDA said some “challenges and trade barriers do exist in the region” -- including bans on certain poultry products -- the U.S. should be aiming to build better relationships with West Africa, which will lead to more market access in other African regions.

The State Department approved a potential military sale to Bahrain worth about $150 million, to refurbish an “Oliver Hazard Perry Class ship,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Oct. 23 press release. The principal contractor for the sale has not yet been chosen.

The State Department approved a potential sale to South Korea of $253 million worth of defense goods, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an Oct. 17 press release. The sale includes 120 medium range air-to-air missiles, the DSCA said, along with containers, weapon support equipment and spare parts. The principal contractor is Massachusetts-based Raytheon.

The Treasury Department recently posted a summary of public briefings in September by officials on proposed regulations under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (see 1909180018).

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs completed a review of a Commerce Department rule that would restrict additional exports and re-exports to Cuba, the OIRA said.