Indonesia soon will impose a new 12% luxury goods sales tax on imported products intended for “high-end Indonesian consumers,” including certain premium beef, pork, fruit, seafood and specialty rice, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said Jan. 2. USDA said those products historically haven’t been subject to any value-added taxes, adding that the new measure is expected to have a “significant impact on [the] above-mentioned U.S. agricultural exports to Indonesia.”

The U.S. government stressed that it plans to continue an ongoing legal battle to enforce the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements in the Corporate Transparency Act, which a federal court paused last month under a nationwide injunction (see 2412270046 and 2412300031)

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service released a summary and translation of China’s recent notice announcing a safeguard investigation on imported beef, including from the U.S. (see 2412300027). The agency said China imported $14.2 billion worth of those beef products in 2023 from the U.S. and other countries, with the U.S. accounting for $1.5 billion worth of those shipments. “While the investigation does not specifically target exported beef from the United States, an affirmative determination would likely result in additional duties on global beef imports, including those from the United States,” USDA said.

The State Department on Dec. 30 announced another round of what it called "significant" new military assistance for Ukraine, providing counter-unmanned aerial systems equipment and munitions, air defense munitions, various ammunition, missiles and other "urgently needed weapons and equipment" to Ukraine for its war against Russia. The $1.25 billion weapons package will be provided under previous drawdowns from Department of Defense stocks. "The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression," the State Department said.

Companies subject to the Treasury Department’s paused beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements are in a “state of bewilderment” after the Corporate Transparency Act rules were temporarily reinstated earlier this month only for them to be quickly placed back under a nationwide injunction last week (see 2412270046), Holland & Knight said in a Dec. 27 client alert. For now, the law firm said there “appears to be a set path forward and a reprieve from imminent compliance obligations” under the rules, which would have required most companies to submit BOI reports to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in January as part of a government initiative to prevent sanctioned parties and others from hiding assets in the U.S.

The Bureau of Industry and Security this week published the third quarterly update of its boycott requester list, a list of entities that have asked other companies to boycott goods from certain countries in violation of the Export Administration Regulations.

A nationwide injunction stopping the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements from taking effect was reinstated last week, making it so certain companies won't have to comply with the law's reporting rules next month.

The State Department approved two possible military sales to Morocco, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. One sale includes "Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles" and related equipment for $88.37 million, and the prime contractor will be RTX Corp. Another is for $86 million worth of "GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs" and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Boeing.

The State Department approved three possible military sales to Egypt, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. One sale includes a $30 million “Precision Kill Weapon System” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be BAE Systems. Another includes $630 million worth of “Hellfire AGM-114R Missiles”; the principal contractor, Lockheed Martin. A third sale involves $4.69 billion worth of “Abrams Tank Refurbishment, Support, and Equipment, and related equipment”; the tank contractor, General Dynamics Land Systems.

The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls said users may experience delayed responses from its Response Team and Help Desk when the government reopens after observing federal holidays over the next week. “Due to the closure and depending on volume of inquires received, responses may be delayed through the following week,” the agency said Dec. 24. “The processing of classified provisos for delivery may also be delayed.” The Response Team and Help desk will reopen Dec. 26 at 8 a.m. EST and Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. EST following the Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 federal holidays.