The Biden administration is considering a set of executive orders to restrict investment and sales involving advanced technologies in China, according to a Sept. 2 post on Medium from Semafor technology reporter Reed Albergotti. Citing people with knowledge of the plans, Albergotti said one order would “narrow” the types of technology that “can be sold to Chinese customers.” The other executive order, for which plans are still up in the air, would involve either a notification scheme for investments in certain technologies including semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, or a mechanism for the U.S. government to block such investments, similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or both, Albergotti said. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the executive order on investment as early as September, the post said. The White House did not comment.

The State Department's Office of the Legal Adviser on Aug. 30 released its "Digest of United States Practice in International Law" for 2021. Chapter 3 covers the termination of International Criminal Court-related sanctions, and Chapter 16 focuses on sanctions developments from 2021, export controls and recent litigation and other restrictions. The document gives a record of the view and practice of the U.S. government.

Only a small percentage of foreign real estate purchases are reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, but that may change given an uptick in concern, lawyers at Morgan Lewis said in an Aug. 29 blog post.

The State Department approved two potential military sales -- to Australia and Morocco -- worth more than a combined $2 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Aug. 25.

The Federal Maritime Commission has made publicly available on its website its FY 2019 Service Contract Inventory Analysis, the agency said in a Federal Register notice. FMC said the analysis includes “Scope, Methodology, Findings, Actions Taken or Planned, and Accountable Officials.”

The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports again postponed by one month a new surcharge meant to incentivize the movement of dwelling containers (see 2110280031), the two ports announced Aug. 26. The ports had planned to begin imposing the fee in November 2021 but postponed it each week until July 29, when the ports announced their first one-month postponement (see 2207290053). The latest one-month extension delays the effective date until Sept. 23.

DOJ is seeking public comments on an information collection involving applications to temporarily export certain firearms. The collection includes information on the Application to Transport Interstate or Temporarily Export Certain National Firearms Act -- ATF Form 5320.20, which is used by “persons other than a qualified Federal firearms licensee” to request approval to transport certain NFA firearms. Comments are due Oct. 24.

A U.S.-based shipper said a Taiwanese container shipping company violated Shipping Act regulations when it failed to supply agreed upon cargo capacity. MSRF, based in Illinois, said Yang Ming Transport “refused to provide more than a fraction of the cargo capacity that MSRF requested and needed” and violated the terms of their contract, forcing MSRF to buy cargo space on the “inflated” spot market. In an August complaint filed to the Federal Maritime Commission, MSRF said the FMC should investigate Yang Ming’s practices and order the container shipping company to pay “reparations.”

The Commerce Department this week appointed members to the U.S. Investment Advisory Council, which will advise the agency on foreign direct investment issues. The council's 34 international business representatives work in a range of technology, manufacturing, electronics and investment sectors. The council will “play a vital role in providing recommendations on programs and policies to continue to attract and retain foreign investment in the United States,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

Ongoing labor negotiations between West Coast ports and their dockworkers’ union (see 2207140062) are at a “standstill” over a disagreement surrounding who maintains equipment at a cargo terminal at the Port of Seattle, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 19. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union wants its next labor contract to ensure that the Seattle cargo-handling terminal uses ILWU workers to maintain and repair equipment, the report said, but the Pacific Maritime Association has said it can’t deliver that promise. The PMA said the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has jurisdiction at the terminal, the report said. The ILWU won’t move to other negotiating topics until the Seattle disagreement is resolved, the report said.