The State Department approved a $1.5 billion potential military sale to Bulgaria of "Stryker Vehicles" and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Sept. 1. The principal contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems.

CBP officers, along with the FBI and other agencies, last week intercepted an outbound shipment of stolen vehicles worth about $428,306, the agency said in a news release. The government seized 12 vehicles and one John Deere combine. The vehicles were destined to West Africa, and the John Deere combine was destined to South America after being reported stolen in Michigan.

The Export-Import Bank didn’t approve a new transaction involving dual-use goods in FY 2022, the Government Accountability Office reported Aug. 31. The bank continued to monitor the end-use of one transaction for the Mexican government, which included a fixed service satellite and a mobile service satellite (see 2008280033). Ex-Im received all required documents from the Mexican government and determined that Mexico was in compliance with the bank’s dual-use policy.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union on Aug. 31 officially voted to ratify the tentative labor agreement they reached with the Pacific Maritime Administration in June (see 2306150038), the ILWU said. The union said it voted 75% in favor of the new deal, which expires July 1, 2028, adding that it "protects good-paying jobs in 29 West Coast port communities, maintains health benefits, and improves wages, pensions and safety protections."

The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking comments on the potential market impact of the proposed FY 2025 National Defense Stockpile Annual Materials Plan, the agency said in a Sept. 1 notice. Comments will help inform the government of the “projected domestic and foreign economic effects of all acquisitions, conversions, and disposals involving the National Defense Stockpile,” BIS said. Comments are due Oct. 5.

A recently issued paper from the International Chamber of Commerce highlights the “great challenge” facing financial institutions in providing trade finance to businesses, especially those involved in dual-use goods, Stephenson Harwood said in an Aug. 29 client alert.

The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service published status reports this week on benefits for U.S. potato, wine and nuts exports as the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement enters its fifth year. The reports outline the various duties that apply to each export this year.

The State Department approved a $104 million potential military sale to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 28. The sale includes “Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin.

The U.S. government must take a host of actions to slow down Chinese "techno-economic dominance," including preventing Chinese firms from being listed on U.S. stock markets and limiting investment into China, Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, said in an Aug. 28 post.

Connecticut-based electronics manufacturer Hubbell Inc. accused freight forwarder DSV of violating U.S. shipping regulations by failing to provide the required service under a negotiated contract, Hubbell said in an Aug. 28 complaint to the Federal Maritime Commission. The manufacturer also accused DSV, headquartered in Denmark, of assessing $900,000 in overbilled or “improper” charges.