On January 20, 2021, Ronald Klain, President Joseph Biden’s Chief of Staff, issued a memorandum to the current heads of all executive branch departments and agencies placing a freeze on the implementation of any new federal regulations, a typical move at the start of a new president’s term. This hold on further action will allow
DDTC Extends Telework Exemption for Regular Employees and Considers Making It Permanent
By Scott E. Diamond** on
In a forthcoming Federal Register Notice, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) is announcing that it is extending until June 30, 2021 the temporary exception provision under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to allow for continued telework operations during the current COVID-19 public health emergency. DDTC announced this extension…
U.S. Tightens Export Controls for Hong Kong – Pompeo States That If China Treats Hong Kong as “One Country, One System,” So Must the United States
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On June 29, 2020, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States was ending exports of U.S.-origin defense equipment to Hong Kong and “will take steps toward imposing the same restrictions on U.S. defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong as it does for China.” The secretary noted that the United States “can…
DDTC Issues Notice on Additional Changes to Operational Procedures Due to COVID-19
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On April 23, 2020, the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) announced certain measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on U.S. companies and supply chains overseas. Key measures from the announcement are summarized below.
Compliance/Registration
- Effective for registrations originally expiring between February 29 and June 30, 2020, registrations as a
…
DDTC Issues New FAQ on Encryption Rule’s Provision of Access Information and Section 120.50(b)
Effective on March 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) interim final rule amended the “Encryption Rule” under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 C.F.R. § 120.54) with definitions more clearly explaining activities that are not considered to be exports, reexports, retransfers or temporary imports of secured…
COVID-19 and International Trade: Status of Trade-Related U.S. Government Agencies & Courts and Helpful Online Resources
UPDATED: April 6, 2020 – Major operational changes continue at trade-related U.S. government agencies and courts due to personnel and public safety concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Below is currently available information on their status. Overall, the Office of Personnel Management has announced that as of March 16, 2020, and until…
U.S. Trade Agencies and Courts Continue to Adjust to COVID-19 Concerns
UPDATED: April 6, 2020 – Major operational changes continue at trade-related U.S. government agencies and courts due to personnel and public safety concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Below is currently available information on their status. Overall, the Office of Personnel Management has announced that as of March 16, 2020, and until…
State Department Adds ITAR Definitions in Interim Final Rule for Activities that Are Not Exports, Reexports, Retransfers or Temporary Imports
On December 30, 2019, the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued an interim final rule seeking to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) with definitions more clearly explaining activities that are not considered to be exports, reexports, retransfers or temporary imports of secured and unclassified technical data. This …
SmarTrade 2019: International Trade Compliance and Enforcement
Please join us for SmarTrade 2019, a complimentary, informative and interactive workshop focusing on risks and opportunities in the regulation of global trade. The workshop format will provide a unique opportunity to discuss industry best practices and common compliance pitfalls with experts in the field and your peers.
- Tuesday, May 14 – Thompson Hine Cleveland
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Trade-Related Agencies Reopen, and Many Toll Deadlines from Government Shutdown
With the 35-day partial federal government shutdown ending on January 26, 2019, the U.S. government’s trade-oriented agencies have reopened and are beginning to work through massive backlogs of work as personnel resume full-time operations. What follows is a listing of the current operational status of many of these agencies:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)…