The U.S. and Singapore this week committed to collaborate across a range of critical and emerging technology areas and vowed to “promote candid and sustained exchanges on risks, opportunities, and key national security implications associated” with the six areas, including artificial intelligence, digital economy and data governance, biotechnology, critical infrastructure and technology supply chains, defense innovation and quantum information science and technology. Marking the inaugural U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue in Washington, the two sides said they plan to promote “research collaboration” in emerging AI, biotech and quantum applications.

The Defense Department is seeking public comments as it considers negotiating a new defense procurement agreement with India, the agency said in a notice. The agency said it’s “evaluating India’s laws and regulations in this area” and “would benefit from U.S. industry’s experience in participating in Indian public defense procurements.” DOD is specifically seeking information about whether those procurements were “conducted with transparency, integrity, fairness, and due process in accordance with published procedures, and if not, the nature of the problems encountered.” Comments are due by Nov. 9.

DOJ is looking to apply its recently revamped corporate enforcement principles “across the entire Department,” including in cases involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said during an event last week held by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. Monaco said companies “should expect more to come on this topic” as DOJ extends its policies “beyond the criminal context to other enforcement resolutions -- from breaches of affirmative civil case settlements to violations of CFIUS mitigation agreements or orders.”

The State Department approved a potential $2.8 billion military sale to Spain for “PATRIOT Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units” and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 4. The prime contractors will be Raytheon Corp. and Lockheed Martin.

The Federal Maritime Commission last week dismissed a charge complaint against Mediterranean Shipping Company lodged by SOFi Paper Products after MSC refunded SOFi for a congestion surcharge that allegedly violated U.S. shipping regulations. The FMC also determined no violations "of the Shipping Act were proven in this proceeding."

The State Department approved a potential $70 million military sale to Oman for “TOW 2B Radio Frequency Missiles (BGM-71F-7-RF) and Support” and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 3. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative canceled two public hearings on China's and Russia's compliance with World Trade Organization commitments, the agency announced this week. USTR said it received 22 comments and three requests to participate in the China-focused hearing, which "subsequently were withdrawn," and the agency canceled the meeting as a result. USTR also canceled its Russia-focused hearing after receiving two comments and one request to participate in the hearing, which also was withdrawn. The hearing on China had been scheduled to take place Oct. 4; the meeting on Russia, Oct. 12.

The Commerce Department is asking companies to use its Semiconductor Alert Mechanism, which collects reports on chip supply chain disruptions so the government can look to address those issues, including with trading partners. The agency said it’s “calling on companies, manufacturers, and other interested parties to submit information regarding any new, ongoing, or potential disruptions to microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing facilities and their related supply chains around the world,” adding that it “will review submissions on a rolling basis and will follow up with parties as needed.”

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is seeking public comments on two information collections, involving beneficial ownership information reports and the FinCEN Identifier Application. FinCEN recently published a rule to require certain entities to report to the agency information about their beneficial owners, which would help U.S. authorities determine whether sanctioned parties or others are illegally hiding money or property in the U.S. (see 2309280006). Under the rule, parties can apply for a “FinCEN Identifier,” a unique identifying number that entities can submit instead of their identifying information, which can serve as a “data security” tool. Comments are due by Oct. 30.

Two semiconductor companies said they have filed for approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. for a merger, Squire Patton said in a Sept. 28 blog post. Renesas Electronics Corporation has offered to acquire all outstanding ordinary and American Depositary Shares of Sequans, and "Completion of the Offer is conditioned on the receipt of ‘CFIUS Approval,’” according to a recent SEC filing.