26-0916: Wednesday's "Export/Import Daily Bugle"

(Source: 91 FR 58610, 16 Sep 2026)

     In FR Doc. 2026-17660, appearing in the third column on page 55460 in the Federal Register of Friday, August 28, 2026, the amendatory instruction for § 120.54 is corrected to read:

§ 120.54 [Corrected] "2. Amend § 120.54 by revising paragraphs (a)(6)(iii) and (a)(7)(iii), and adding paragraphs (a)(8) and (a)(9), to read as follows:"

[Editor's note: This administrative correction does not amend the text of the ITAR.]

(Source: Future Federal Register, 16 Sep 2026)

(Source: DHS/CBP/CSMS)

(Source: OTR Webinars)

(Source: Commerce/BIS)

(Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency)

     DSCA has posted Policy Memo 26-74 Updates to Chapter 10 International Military Education and Training Short Duration Waiver and Courses Section.
     This memorandum updates the Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) Chapter 10, Section C10.6.3.6. and Table C10.T4. to reflect a Department of State (State) Policy change regarding the minimum duration of International Military Education and Training (IMET)-funded training.
     State's policy change eliminated the minimum duration requirement to reduce the administrative burden on the security cooperation community. This memo removes the section and table referenced above.

(Source: Justice Office of Public Affairs, 14 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]

     Andrei Samuilovski, 32, who has citizenship in Estonia, Switzerland, and Russia, pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation and aerospace parts to Russia in violation of U.S. sanctions.
     Samuilovski pleaded guilty before Judge Carl J. Nichols to a one count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. A sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. Samuilovski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
     According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2022 and continuing through September 2024, Samuilovski and others conspired to supply prohibited Russian end users with aerospace-related components without first obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
     BIS regulates the export of U.S.-origin technologies, including aerospace parts and other items controlled for national security, regional stability, and anti-terrorism reasons. A license from BIS was required to export the aerospace commodities to Russia. . . .

(Source: State/DDTC)

(Source: Treasury/OFAC, 16 Sep 2026)

     The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Venezuela-related General License 5Z, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond on or After November 5, 2026."
     OFAC is also issuing one amended Venezuela-related Frequently Asked Question, FAQ 595.
     The SDN list has recently been updated. Visit this page to access the latest version of the SDN list. Please visit this link for more information.

(Source: USTR Press Office, 15 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]

     On September 15, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) convened representatives of over 50 trading partners from around the world to provide training related to imposing and effectively enforcing forced labor import prohibitions.
     As part of a whole-of-government effort to support governments that are willing to combat the trade in goods made with forced labor through import prohibitions at their own borders, USTR is partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Department of Labor to provide the training, as well as in-depth and country-specific technical assistance.
     The United States has prohibited the import of goods made with forced labor for almost 100 years. In recent years, successive U.S. Congresses and presidential administrations have strengthened this prohibition in domestic law, as well as incorporated it in international trade agreements. As a result of these efforts and USTR's Section 301 investigation of this issue, by July 2026, 12 additional economies had adopted measures that prohibit the importation of goods made by forced labor, including Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago. . . .

(Source: The White House)

(Source: Expeditors News, 15 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]

     In a Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) bulletin published on September 14, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that is adding the Short Message Service (SMS) as a multifactor login authentication option to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal.
     After users log into the ACE Portal, they will be given the option to register a mobile phone number to receive a login security token via SMS. Once registered, users can log in with either an email or SMS authentication method.
     CSMS # 69896141 and a link to a training page on manage ACE Portal authentication settings is HERE.

(Source: Shap Flash, 16 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]

     Customs and Border Protection will roll out Phase 3 of the Consolidated Administration and Process of Entries (CAPE) in ACE on Oct. 6, 2026. Phase 3 will cover finally liquidated entries filed by plaintiffs for which the Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered reliquidation, according to a declaration filed by CBP's Executive Director of Trade Programs Brandon Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to CIT Judge Richard Eaton.
     This means that Phase 3 refunds are only for importers who have filed individual lawsuits with the CIT. CBP says it cannot reopen these closed accounts without a direct order from a judge. Plaintiffs who submitted a valid importer of record number to CBP by July 30, 2026, will be able to file CAPE declarations for Phase 3 as of October 6, 2026. CBP will provide additional instructions regarding CAPE Phase 3 to the plaintiffs who provided an importer of record number after July 30, 2026.
     What Importers Should Do Next: If you are an importer waiting for a Phase 3 refund:

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 16 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     Food and Drug Administration import alerts affecting the following have been newly issued or modified in the past week.

     Import alerts inform FDA field staff that the agency has enough evidence or other information to allow a product that appears to be in violation of FDA laws and regulations to be detained without physical examination at the time of entry. Import alerts may cover products from designated countries or areas (including from all foreign countries), manufacturers, or shippers.
     Firms and/or products on the "red list" of an import alert are subject to DWPE, while firms and/or products on the "green list" are not because they have met the criteria for exclusion. Some import alerts include a "yellow list" of firms, products, and/or countries subject to intensified surveillance because the nature of the violations may warrant further field examinations of individual entries and/or additional analyses. In addition, depending on the specific import alert, shipments of products subject to DWPE may still be imported into the U.S. if the importer has demonstrated that the shipment is in compliance.
     If a product is detained without physical examination the importer has the right to provide evidence to the FDA in an attempt to overcome the appearance of the violation. If no such evidence is submitted, or if the evidence provided is insufficient, the product will be subject to refusal of entry into the U.S. . . .

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 16 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     The International Trade Administration and/or International Trade Commission have recently announced the following actions in antidumping and/or countervailing duty cases: . . .

(Source: Breaking Defense, 16 Sep 2026) [Excerpts]

     A stopgap budget measure passed by lawmakers earlier this month may have averted a government shutdown, but the continuing resolution set to stretch until mid-December will still carry considerable consequences for the Space Force, according to its new top uniformed official.
     "We're thankful that we have a CR for going into October [1], but I would really be more thankful if we had a budget," Gen. Douglas Schiess, who was sworn in as the chief of space operations Sept. 3, said during a briefing with reporters today.
     Speaking on the sidelines of the Air and Space Forces Association conference here, the general said roughly "90 percent" of the Space Force's programs come from last year -- meaning they can continue under a CR. But about 10 percent of the Space Force's planned efforts can't proceed without a new spending bill, or a special congressional carveout known as an anomaly, according to Schiess.
     The FY27 budget itself, however, currently hangs in the balance. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have cast doubt on the Trump administration's $350 billion reconciliation request for the Pentagon. The continuing resolution will also stretch until after the November elections, where polling shows Democrats are poised to potentially retake the House and Senate races. . . .

(Source: The Export Practitioner, 9 Sep 2026) [Excerpts of paywall publication.]

     The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published an interim final rule on August 28, 2026, shifting qualifying civil aircraft modified with aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The rule takes effect October 13, 2026; comments are due September 28, 2026. It is an interim final rule with a scheduled effective date, rather than a proposed rule. Federal Register, 91 FR 55457.
     Eligibility requires specified manned civil aircraft, qualifying certification, and secured infrared countermeasures or associated missile-warning equipment with anti-tamper protections. Conditional relief also covers temporary U.S. imports and movements between foreign countries of installed ASE; the latter requires a prior ITAR export license.
     Commercially, the change should reduce approval burdens for routine aircraft maintenance and international operations, improving U.S. suppliers' competitiveness.
     ASE, related technical data, installation assistance, and ASE-specific servicing remain ITAR-controlled.
     Aircraft transactions remain subject to applicable EAR requirements, and ASE retransfers remain controlled. DDTC provides no quantified savings estimate. Rule scope, retained controls, and economic assessment.
     For operators, maintenance providers, and equipment suppliers, the practical opportunity is shorter turnaround times and greater flexibility in supporting eligible fleets. Realizing those benefits will require aircraft-specific eligibility reviews, revised maintenance scopes, and clear contractual allocation of responsibility for aircraft work and controlled ASE activities. . . .

(Source: The Organiser - Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Ltd, 16 Sep 2026)

     BEIJING: China has introduced sweeping new rules governing who can enter and leave the country, giving authorities broader powers to restrict the overseas travel of Chinese citizens, while imposing tougher consequences on foreign nationals.
     China's State Council issued the new Exit and Entry Administration Provisions on July 31, with the 19-article regulations coming into force on September 15, 2026. The changes represent a major update to the country's exit-and-entry framework since the Exit and Entry Administration Law was introduced in 2013.
     For multinational companies operating in China, the new provisions could have significant implications for business travel, executive mobility, technology transfers and visa compliance. . . .

(Source: The United States Studies Centre, Sydney, AUS; 15 Sep 2026)

     It's been five years since the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced AUKUS, a security partnership designed to deepen technology and capability-sharing among the three countries.
     While its much-publicized Pillar I component -- centered on Australia's acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines -- is reported to be "on track," the lesser-known Pillar II component has come under mounting criticism for "failing" to deliver fast enough.
     As a framework for the joint development and fielding of advanced military capabilities, Pillar II was initially pegged by some analysts to be the "more consequential" arm of the AUKUS partnership -- not only for delivering on a shorter timeline than Pillar I, but also for leveraging the latest technologies known to be reshaping how modern conflicts are fought.
     In the years that have passed since its announcement, Pillar II's progress has proven difficult to judge -- not due to a lack of activity, but because there's no agreed metric for what success should look like. For some, its incrementalism is indicative of its failure, while to others, the breadth of its objectives warrants a slow and steady approach.
     Five years on, it's time to take stock of Pillar II's objectives and efforts to better understand this evolving debate, and consider what lies ahead.

(Source: Jenny Hahn, [email protected])

(Source: Editor)

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(Source: Brainy Quotes)

(Source: History Channel)

1620 -- The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620, with 102 passengers bound for the New World. After a 66-day voyage, the ship landed on November 21 on the tip of Cape Cod at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts. In the first year of settlement, half the colonists died of disease.

1908 -- General Motors was founded by William C. Durant. In its first two years, GM cobbled together 30 companies, including 11 automakers like Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Oakland (which later became Pontiac), some supplier firms, and even an electric company. Durant was forced out by GM board members in 1920. During the Depression, Durant went bankrupt, and he spent his last years managing a bowling alley in Flint, Michigan.

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26. Are Your Copies of Export/Import Regulations Current?

(Source: Editor)

The official versions of the following regulations are published annually in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) but are updated as amended in the Federal Register. The latest amendments are listed below.