The State Department approved a potential $5.9 billion sale of “P-8A Aircraft” and related equipment to Canada, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 27. The prime contractor will be Boeing, but a “significant number of other companies” under contract with the Navy will provide “components, systems, and engineering services during the execution of this effort.”

Netherlands-based Viterra and U.S.-based Bunge Limited, both agribusiness companies, plan to file a notice with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. on their proposed combination, Squire Patton said in a June 27 client alert. The acquisition of Bunge by Viterra and its affiliates in Sweden and Canada is valued at $8.2 billion.

Three automakers are changing their blanket coverage period for USMCA documentation, the Automotive Industry Action Group said in an emailed alert. Ford, GM and Honda had been issuing blanket documentation that covered the period July 1 to June 30 each year, as a result of the USMCA’s July 1, 2020, effective date. The three automakers will now switch to blanket periods that run for the calendar year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, the AIAG said. The change will “better align with other trade agreements” and “make it easier for suppliers to manage their trade documentation processes,” the AIAG said. The change will take effect for GM and Honda Jan. 1, 2024, and for Ford Jan. 1, 2025, the AIAG said.

The State Department June 27 authorized another drawdown of $500 million worth of U.S. arms and defense equipment to Ukraine. The package includes Bradley and Stryker vehicles, munitions for air defense systems, artillery, launch rocket systems, anti-tank weapons, anti-radiation missiles, precision aerial munitions and other "essential resources" to "support Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive operations."

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls added a new “Renewal Fee Details” function to its online application system, the agency recently announced. The new function will allow certain users of the Defense Export Control and Compliance System to view their registration expiration date, license period start and end dates, their number of licenses and more information “consolidated into the new Renewal Fee Details window.” Users will also be able to download a .csv file “of all licenses considered when calculating the renewal fee charged by DDTC,” along with other new functionalities. Questions should be directed to PM_DDTCProjectteam@state.gov.

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration will hold a public meeting of the President's Export Council June 29 after years of inactivity. The council, which hasn’t met since 2016 but whose charter President Joe Biden recently renewed (see 2201030053), will discuss the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and “strengthening U.S. leadership in technology and innovation,” the ITA said in a June 15 notice. The meeting will be broadcast via live webcast on the internet. The council is accepting public written comments through 5 p.m. EDT June 27.

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration will host a virtual roundtable June 29 to discuss “challenges and opportunities” for strengthening the supply chain and export competitiveness of the American hydrogen industry. The roundtable will feature U.S. industry representatives and government officials, and the agency will consider applications for the discussion on a rolling basis until 25 participants have been selected.

Export compliance professionals stressed the importance of restricted party screening, telling this week's American Association of Exporters and Importers’ annual conference the screening process has become even more pivotal as the pace of new U.S. sanctions and export controls increases. Karen Wyman, who heads the trade compliance division at thermal imaging company Teledyne FLIR, said part of that effort is ensuring screening lists are constantly up to date.

The State Department approved a potential military sale to the Netherlands worth about $611 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes "MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft" and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said advocates for free trade agreements who argue that 95% of customers are outside our borders are myopic.