The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of one person for illegally exporting technology to Hong Kong, eight people for illegally exporting guns and ammunition to Mexico and two people for illegally sending firearms to the Dominican Republic.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls updated its online application with a new option for industry to make DDTC speaker requests, the agency announced this week. The Defense Export Controls and Compliance System now includes a “user-friendly form” for industry and others to request DDTC event speakers for “outreach engagements,” including conferences, public meetings, trade shows and “widely-attended workshops and events,” the agency said. “If your organization would benefit from having a DDTC subject matter expert speak at your next outreach event, be sure to use this form for all future requests.” Requesters must be enrolled in DECCS to access the forms.
The Bureau of Industry and Security needs much more funding to carry out its export control work, lawmakers and former officials said during a House hearing this week. Kevin Wolf, a former senior official at BIS, said Congress should consider doubling -- perhaps quadrupling -- the agency’s resources.
The Census Bureau is nixing plans to update its Automated Export System early with a new proposed export filing requirement for certain U.S. Munitions List exports, CBP said in a May 10 CSMS message. Census last week said it planned to update the AESDirect web application May 9 with the new data element (see 2305040024) even though it had just proposed the electronic export filing requirement one day earlier and was still soliciting public comments on the change, which are due July 3 (see 2305020007).
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls released guidance to help exporters comply with a proposal that could introduce new filing requirements for certain U.S. Munitions List items. The guidance -- which deals with a proposed rule by the Census Bureau that could require exporters to submit a new data element in the Automated Export System when shipping USML Category XXI items (see 2305020007) -- features a range of frequently asked questions, including about how exporters can determine whether their items are controlled under Category XXI, when exporters should use the data element and more.
A bill introduced in the Senate last week could create new export authorizations -- including a new open general license for certain defense exports and a new license exception for dual-use goods -- to expedite shipments to Australia, Canada and the U.K. The legislation, introduced by Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., also would allow the State Department to hire more export license review officers, create a “fast-track” foreign military sales process, reduce barriers to information sharing within the Australia-U.K.-U.S. partnership and more.
The Census Bureau this week previewed its new response code to prepare Automated Export System users ahead of a potential electronic export filing requirement for certain U.S. Munitions List items.
The Census Bureau this week proposed that exporters submit a new data element in the Automated Export System when shipping items classified under U.S. Munitions List Category XXI. Census said the proposed change, previewed by an agency official last month (see 2304260047), could help the Commerce Department “collect additional data” on Category XXI exports, which includes articles, technical data and defense services “not otherwise enumerated” under other USML categories.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls initiated more end-use checks in FY 2022 compared with FY 2021 and saw an increase in in-person site visits due to loosened COVID-19 pandemic-related travel restrictions. In its annual Blue Lantern report released this week -- which details the agency’s end-use monitoring efforts on export-controlled defense articles and services -- the agency said it began checks on 305 export authorizations or authorization requests, an uptick from the 281 checks it began in 2021 (see 2204180030).
NEW OREANS -- The Census Bureau and the State Department are working on a change that would require exporters to submit additional information in the Automated Export System when shipping items controlled under U.S. Munitions List Category XXI, said Omari Wooden, Census’ assistant division chief for trade outreach and regulations. Wooden said the change will be outlined in a proposed rule and could eventually lead to a fatal error in AES if not followed.