GunUniversity.com posted a copy of a document that it says is the Commerce Department’s final rule for the transfer of export controls of firearms, ammunition and defense items from the State Department to Commerce. In a Jan. 14 post, the website said the rule will be published this week. The National Shooting Sports Foundation also expected the rule to be published this week (see 2001140043) and has called it the top concern of the gun industry (see 1908130066). Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has said he will block any attempt to transfer the controls from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List unless the administration abides by certain requests, including informing the Senate of certain licensed exports (see 1912160057). Commerce did not comment on the document’s authenticity.

Correction: The comment deadline for the interim rule for the definition for principal place of business in the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act regulations is Feb. 18 (see 2001140060).

New rules for the transfer of export controls over firearms and ammunition from the State Department to the Commerce Department are expected this week, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In a newsletter emailed Jan. 13, the NSSF said the rules, which will transfer controls over firearms, guns, ammunition and other defense items from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List, will take effect 45 days after they are published this week.

The Commerce Department should make clear who involved in the import process might be subject to the proposed procedures for how to review transactions that involve information and communications technology and services (ICTS) and are seen as a potential threat, the Express Association of America said in comments. The Commerce proposal is meant as a way for the government to oversee transactions, including importations, seen as risky (see 1911260032). Comments on the proposal were due Jan. 10 and were posted in Commerce docket 2019-0005.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is holding a webinar Jan. 14 to provide an introduction for its Defense Export Control and Compliance System, DDTC said in a Jan. 9 notice. The new platform, part of DDTC’s “major IT Modernization effort,” will provide industry access to DDTC applications through a single online portal, DDTC said. The agency will release the registration and licensing applications to the DECCS platform in February. The webinar is aimed at helping the “community prepare for the launch” and will include an “introduction of the functionality included in the released applications,” “highlights of changes from current business processes” and “steps users can take now in preparation.” The webinar will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Log-in details are provided in the notice.

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began an interagency review of a final rule that would amend the country groups for Russia and Yemen under the Export Administration Regulations. OIRA received the Commerce Department rule Jan. 8.

The Commerce Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to voluntary self-disclosures of antiboycott violations, Commerce said in a Jan. 8 notice. Comments are due March 8.

The Commerce Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to voluntary self-disclosures of Export Administration Regulations violations, Commerce said in a Jan. 8 notice. Comments are due March 8.

The Congressional Research Service released a report Jan. 3 on issues and provisions surrounding the state-state dispute settlement mechanism in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, including explanations of the consultation, panel establishment and resolution process. The report also includes potential considerations for Congress, including whether it should use USMCA's dispute resolution system as a ”template” for future Trade Promotion Authority legislation.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition applauded a California judge’s decision to temporarily block a law the group said would hurt exports through higher trucking costs, according to an emailed press release. The judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the legislation, AB 5, which would make it harder for gig economy companies to qualify workers as independent contractors as opposed to employees, according to a Jan. 1 Reuters report. The AgTC said the law, if enacted, would “wreak havoc on trucking in California and on the hundreds of thousands employed in U.S. agriculture/forest products exports.”