The Federal Maritime Commission urged carriers and terminal operators not to retaliate against shippers for questioning an invoice or filing a complaint with the FMC, warning the cargo shipping industry this week that it will pursue serious penalties against those that violate the anti-retaliation provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
The Federal Maritime Commission is bringing on two temporary administrative law judges to help it handle a “significant increase” in complaints and disputes filed before the commission, the FMC said Oct. 8. Most complaints involve COVID-19 pandemic-era supply chain issues. “Adding two additional judges will permit the OALJ to ensure timely adjudication of the record number of pending proceedings,” the commission said.
The State Department approved possible military sales to India, Romania and Italy, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 7. The sale to India includes $175 million worth of “MK 54 MOD 0 Lightweight Torpedoes and related equipment,” and a majority of the torpedo’s hardware will be bought from U.S. Navy stock. The sale to Romania includes $110 million worth of “Sentinel Radar Systems” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be RTX Corp. The sale to Italy includes a $680 million “Electronic Attack Mission System” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be BAE Systems.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week published the second quarterly update of its new 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.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection involving export licensees transferring an active export license to another party. In those scenarios, BIS said “there must be assurances that the other party, the transferee, will also be accountable for the proper use of the license.” The agency collects information from both parties to make sure shipments exported under the license won’t be diverted or “used for purposes contrary to the authorized use of the approved license.” Comments on the information collection are due Dec. 2.
The State Department approved a $405 million military sale to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Sept. 27. The sale includes “Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Systems.
The National Grain and Feed Association and nearly 200 other organizations and companies urged President Joe Biden in a letter last week to work with Mexico to address that country’s rail capacity problems, which they say are hindering U.S. agricultural exports.
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network revoked a 2018 determination that designated Latvian bank ABLV Bank, AS as a money laundering concern, saying the bank no longer meets the criteria and should no longer face special financial restrictions.
The State Department approved possible military sales to Egypt and Iraq, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said this week. The sale to Egypt includes $740 million worth of “stinger Missiles and related elements of logistics and program support,” and the principal contractor will be RTX Corporation. The sale to Iraq includes $65 million worth of “Follow-On Technical Support Vessel Maintenance and Repair” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Amentum.
The State Department approved possible military sales to Sweden and Bulgaria, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said last week. The sale to Sweden includes $31.5 million worth of “multifunctional information distribution system joint tactical radio systems” and related equipment, and the principal contractor is Data Link Solutions. The sale to Bulgaria includes $114 million worth of “Javelin FGM-148F missiles” and related equipment, and the prime contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation.