Trade Security

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comment on updating vessel inspection fees. The Coast Guard, by regulation, establishes inspection fees for U.S. commercial vessels required to maintain a Certificate of Inspection and foreign tankships and mobile offshore drilling units required to maintain a Certificate of Compliance. This includes overseas inspection and examination fees. The Coast Guard is considering options for updating and/or restructuring these inspection fees to ensure their adequacy and equity, and for adapting to changes that have occurred since they were last modified in 1998. The Coast Guard seeks information on factors to consider when updating these fees. See 75 FR 74674.

The White House Press Office released this week an Executive Order announcing the creation of the Export Coordination Enforcement Center (ECEC). The creation of the trade security center, is part of the Obama Administration efforts to reform U.S. export control laws.

"To enhance our enforcement efforts and minimize enforcement conflicts, executive departments and agencies must coordinate their efforts to detect, prevent, disrupt, investigate, and prosecute violations of U.S. export control laws, and must share intelligence and law enforcement information related to these efforts to the maximum extent possible, consistent with national security and applicable law," says the Executive Order.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated thirty-seven (37) Iranian front companies for acting on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its affiliates.  Iran has been using IRISL to advance its illicit weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program as well as to carry military cargoes.