The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recently updated its list of commodity jurisdiction (CJ) determinations, which DDTC issues after receiving requests from industry to determine whether a commodity or service is covered by the U.S. Munitions List. The table includes several new CJ determinations issued in September, including certain subassemblies for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, which DDTC classified as USML Category VIII(f); an item that allows helicopters to carry sling loads and serves as “a conduit for electric actuation of remote hooks and other electrically operated equipment,” which it classified under the Export Administration Regulations as EAR99; and a digital fuel gauge that it classified as USML Category VIII(h)(1).

Norway is adding a new annex to its export control list to cover a set of “critical goods and technologies” that aren’t currently subject to export licensing requirements, including certain advanced semiconductors and quantum computers, according to an unofficial translation of an Oct. 3 notice from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new annex, effective Nov. 1, will cover items that “are considered disruptive technologies or emerging technologies that are of such a nature that they should be subject to control,” the ministry said.

The Nov. 5 presidential election could have a significant impact on how the U.S. works with the EU to develop export controls for China, according to a new report released last week by the Washington, D.C.-based American-German Institute.

The Biden administration is “strongly committed to combating the illegal transit of firearms to Hait through multiple initiatives,” a National Security Council spokesperson said late Sept. 27.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has reviewed more than 1,250 suspicious activity reports (SARs) submitted to the government as part of an effort with the Treasury Department to collect more tips from industry about possible Russia-related sanctions or export control violations, said Matthew Axelrod, the top BIS export enforcement official.

The State Department will again renew relaxed export restrictions for certain defense goods and services involving Cyprus, it said in a final rule released this week and effective Oct. 1. The agency has issued the renewal each year since 2020 (see 2309130028), suspending its policy of denial for exports, reexports, and transfers of defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List to Cyprus. The move also suspends the policy of denial for retransfers and temporary imports destined for or originating in Cyprus and brokering activities involving Cyprus. The latest renewal expires Sept. 30, 2025.

Companies involved in the quantum computing, semiconductor manufacturing, additive manufacturing and other advanced technology industries covered by a recent Bureau of Industry and Security export control rule should review their compliance programs to make sure they can manage the upcoming license requirements, Gibson Dunn said in a client alert.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is extending until Oct. 15 the public comment period for two July proposed rules that could put in place new restrictions on U.S. persons’ support for foreign military intelligence and foreign security end users, among other changes (see 2407250032). BIS said the extension will give commenters “additional time to review the proposed rule and to be informed by the public outreach that BIS is conducting on the rule in preparing their comments.”

The State Department is extending until Oct. 15 the public comment period for a July proposed rule that could revise its definition of defense services and the scope of related controls in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (see 2407250032). Comments were originally due by Sept. 27, the agency said. The State Department said the Commerce Department also will soon extend its public comment period for a complementary pair of rules it issued the same day that could introduce new restrictions on U.S. persons’ support for foreign military intelligence and foreign security end users, among other changes.

Austria, Estonia, Lithuania and the Netherlands on Sept. 22 signed onto a statement committing to place export controls around spyware technology, joining the U.S. and more than 15 other countries as part of an effort to raise trade guardrails for cyber-related items used for human rights violations.