The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released the 2020 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters, it said in a March 31 notice. The notice includes a fact sheet on the USTR’s efforts to remove foreign trade barriers -- including recent trade deals with China (see 2001150073) and Japan (see 1912050058) -- and details on agricultural and digital trade barriers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service issued a March 31 report detailing changes to the procedures for exporting U.S. beef to China. The report can serve as a “general guide” for U.S. beef exporters navigating the new regulations, the agency said. The changes, which came as part of the phase one trade agreement (see 2003240041), include an expanded scope of beef products that are eligible for export, the removal of certain age limits for cattle, new maximum residue limit standards and an updated procedure for transmitting export documents, USDA said. In addition, almost all U.S. “beef muscle cuts” are included in China’s most recent tariff exclusions process (see 2002180039), USDA said.

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to notifications submitted to the agency concerning changes in registration information, according to a notice. The information collection applies to companies registered with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls involved in “producing or marketing” goods controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The collection also applies to companies who may be involved in a merger, acquisition or divestiture of a company that deals in ITAR-controlled items. Comments are due June 1.

The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection related to advisory opinion requests made by companies exporting defense goods or services, the State Department said in a notice. The collection applies to companies that seek opinions about whether the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls would be likely to grant a license for a particular defense export, the notice said. Comments are due June 1.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued a new frequently asked question designed to help users of the recently released encryption rule (see 2003260005) better understand the “provision of access information to foreign persons,” the agency said in a March 27 notice. The DDTC said violations can occur under this provision if a “regulated person” provides access information to a foreign person who is able to access the encrypted technical data in an “unencrypted form” but is “not authorized to have the technical data.”

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is suspending pickup and drop-off courier services to comply with the government’s guidance to “maximize” social distancing, the DDTC said in a March 26 notice. The agency will instead send documents to companies through the U.S. Postal Service, and said companies should continue to mail documents to DDTC “as they have done in the past.” Certain “special requirements” may apply if sending or receiving classified documents, DDTC said. Questions about classified documents should be directed to EisenbeissBK@state.gov and DiggsYM@state.gov.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued a reminder that its interim final rule that revised the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to provide definitions for activities that are not exports, re-exports, retransfers or temporary imports took effect March 25 (see 1912230052), the agency said in a notice. DDTC also reissued a guidance for the rule (see 2002210019), which makes significant changes to encrypted data controls (see 1912300024 and 2002280050).

Canada, Australia and five other countries issued a joint statement saying they are committed to keeping trade lanes open and stressed the importance of refraining from imposing export controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade should continue to “flow unimpeded” during the pandemic and should not hamper global air and sea ports, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand and Singapore said in a March 25 joint statement. “We recognise that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that trade lines remain open, including via air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of goods including essential supplies,” the countries said.

The Commerce Department extended the public comment period for feedback on future temporary general license extensions under the Export Administration Regulations (see 2003100070), the agency said in a notice. The comments, which were originally due March 25, are now due April 22. The comments will determine the “continuing need” and the scope for future extensions for the temporary general license for Huawei, Commerce said in a March 25 press release.

All license and agreement request transfers will be sent once a day, effective March 23, according to a notice from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. The transfers will occur at 6 a.m. daily EDT, the notice said, but that is subject to change depending on the number of submissions or “technical concerns.” The DDTC said it will inform users of any “significant delays.” The agency added that licenses or agreements to be sent to CBP will be transferred at 9 a.m. daily. Questions should be directed to the DDTC Help Desk.