The Treasury Department July 22 issued a list of countries that require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. Listed are Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen. The United Arab Emirates was removed from the list in April (see 2104080031).
A group of technology, auto, manufacturing and semiconductor groups urged congressional leaders to fund the CHIPS for America Act so the semiconductor industry can begin benefiting from tax credits and other incentives to boost U.S. semiconductor innovation (see 2107160040). The groups, including the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urged Congress in a July 22 letter to “expeditiously” approve funding for the bill and other programs to support the chip industry. “These initiatives will help grow the U.S. economy, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying middle-class jobs in advanced manufacturing and other fields, unleash billions in private sector investments, assure the supply of critical components essential to virtually all sectors of the economy, and strengthen our national security,” the groups wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
President Joe Biden nominated Laurie Locascio to be the Commerce Department’s undersecretary for standards and technology, the White House said July 20. Locascio is vice president for research at the University of Maryland and previously worked at Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Federal Maritime Commission will audit ocean carriers’ compliance with the FMC’s rule on detention and demurrage (see 2009140045 and 2011170041) in a bid to stop carriers from imposing unreasonable fees. The newly established Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program, which includes a dedicated audit team, will conduct the audits, the FMC said July 20. The program will “analyze” the top nine carriers by market share for compliance with the FMC’s rule and “clarify any questions or ambiguities.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security is again seeking comments on an information collection related to a survey to assess the competitiveness of certain U.S. industries in the defense industrial base, a notice said. The survey will help “small- and medium-sized firms in defense transition and in gaining access to advanced technologies and manufacturing processes available from Federal Laboratories.” BIS previously requested feedback in March (see 2103220005) but is allowing for an additional 30 days for public comment. Comments are due by Aug. 23.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection involving the Chemical Weapons Convention provisions in the Export Administration Regulations, the agency said in a notice. The collection describes the purpose of the CWC, U.S. reporting obligations and information on certain end-use certificates. Comments are due by Sept. 20.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended by 30 days the comment period for an information collection related to statements by the ultimate consignee and purchaser of U.S. exports (see 2103220006), it said in a notice. The collection involves Form BIS-711, which provides information on the foreign importer receiving the U.S. technology, describes how the technology will be used and “provides assurances” that the technology will not be used in violation of the Export Administration Regulations. Comments are now due by Aug. 20.
President Joe Biden on July 19 nominated Judith Pryor for first vice president of the Export-Import Bank. Pryor is a Senate-confirmed member of the Ex-Im’s board, where she has overseen the bank’s efforts involving Africa, the Middle East, renewable energy, storage, efficiency and women and minority-owned businesses.
U.S. beef exporters should see record numbers this year and expect to “strengthen their position in the global marketplace” as countries roll back COVID-19 restrictions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 15 report. USDA said U.S. beef exports are forecast to reach a record 1.5 million metric tons, up 16% from last year and 8% above the 2018 high. Exporters should see especially strong demand from South Korea and China and less competition from some other beef exporters, including Australia, which is rebuilding its herd after a multiyear drought.
Lindsay Gorman, a former emerging technology expert at the German Marshall Fund, will join the White House as a senior adviser for technology strategy, she announced July 13. Before joining GMF, she ran Politech Advisory, a technology consulting firm, and worked in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.