President Donald Trump on July 26 directed the U.S. trade representative to seek changes at the World Trade Organization that would prevent rich countries from claiming benefits reserved for developing countries in WTO agreements.

If the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on a “hard Brexit,” the U.K. will likely make use of more flexible licensing powers, publish more sanctions guidance and may quickly impose its own set of sanctions on human rights violations, said Maya Lester, a U.K.-based sanctions lawyer, during a KPMG webinar on July 25.

CBP hopes its Electronic Export Manifest system reduces costs and waiting times for U.S. exporters, who are being burdened by CBP’s “antiquated process for exports,” said Jim Swanson, director of CBP’s Cargo and Security Controls Division, at the agency’s Trade Symposium in Chicago on July 25.

CBP is working with several African countries to improve their ports and customs agencies and to increase trade with the U.S., said Tasha Reid Hippolyte, director of CBP’s Africa, Middle East and Central Asia Division, speaking during the agency’s Trade Symposium in Chicago on July 24.

The Commerce Department plans to issue decisions on Huawei-related export license applications “within the next few weeks,” Secretary Wilbur Ross said July 23 on Bloomberg Television. Ross said Commerce has received about 50 applications from 35 companies. “We’re processing them as quickly as we responsibly can,” he said.

CHICAGO -- CBP has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development to improve customs agencies in the Northern Triangle countries of Central America, hoping improvements will lead to more trade within the region and with the U.S., CBP’s Assistant Commissioner for the Office of International Affairs Ian Saunders said, speaking at the agency’s Trade Symposium in Chicago on July 23.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for July 15-19 in case they were missed.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control’s amendments to its reporting, procedures and penalties regulations has caused a “great deal of confusion” among U.S. companies, the American Association of Exporters and Importers said in July 22 comments to the agency. AAEI said several of the updates are unclear, including OFAC’s new reporting requirements for rejected transactions and the update that expands the scope of transactions that must be reported.

CBP released a draft version of its business process document for Electronic Export Manifest and is hoping to get feedback at the CBP Trade Symposium in Chicago, the agency said in an email. "If you plan to attend the Exports Modernization Feedback Session on Wednesday, July 24, we are asking participants to be prepared to provide feedback on the attached CBP draft Electronic Export Manifest Business Process document," the agency said. "CBP is interested in hearing your feedback during the session."

The supply chain security executive order issued in May is directly related to Huawei, Akin Gump lawyers said, and will likely restrict Huawei from selling certain items if those items impact U.S. national security. The executive order (see 1905160072) requires the Commerce Department to issue regulations within 150 days (that is, by Oct. 14) and bars "transactions involving information and communications technology [ICT] or services" without a broad interagency review.