DHS Announces AI Roadmap and AI Pilot Projects
March 20, 2024 – DHS Secretary Mayorkas and CIO/Chief AI Officer Eric Hysen announced this week the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap and 3 pilot projects to show the potential uses of AI across DHS. The pilot projects include the use of AI to:
1. Enhance investigative processes focused on detecting fentanyl and child sexual exploitation;
2. Help communities plan for and develop hazard mitigation plans to build resilience and minimize risks (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and,
3. Improve immigration officer training (US Citizenship and Immigration Services).
DHS says the Roadmap prioritizes testing AI technologies to bolster homeland security while safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. For more information, read DHS’s news release here and the AI Roadmap here.
Higher CNLs Coming for GSP Renewal?
March 20, 2024 – The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to introduce legislation soon to renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). An executive at the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) reportedly believes the bill may include higher competitive needs limitations (CNLs), which when met, eliminates duty-free access to the U.S. market for products that exceed them.
AAFA’s Beth Hughes also says that once lawmakers complete work on a new tax bill, she expects them to turn their attention to trade. “We’ll see [GSP] come very quickly… and move fast.” Read more from International Trade Today (paywall).
Seven Countries Join Spyware Export Control Pact
At the third Summit for Democracy in Seoul this week, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and South Korea signed onto a commitment to place export controls on spyware technology. This is part of an international effort to increase the barriers around cyber-related items that could be used for human rights violations.
The group, now including 17 countries, met in person for the first time yesterday to “share best practices, lessons learned, and to identify opportunities to … counter the misuse of commercial spyware.” Read the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware and the State Department’s news release here.
Export Controls and CEOs: "Timelines" Are Everything
March 20, 2024 – As the Biden Administration enhances national security with tightened export controls and sanctions, it is depending on U.S. companies to go along with its rules instead of seeking workarounds.
But CEOs of global corporations say doing so is not that simple. They say the government is thinking about short-term national security outcomes. Corporate leaders, on the other hand, think in the long-term for their companies’ investment decisions.
Attendees of AAEI’s 2024 Annual Conference will hear about C-Suite decision-making in a panel session called, “Global Trade Compliance from the Top.”
Read more about CEOs’ challenges with global trade from Foreign Affairs Magazine.
Homeland Security Chief Applauds EU for New Forced Labor Ban
March 20, 2024 – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is praising the European Union for its new regulation banning imports made with forced labor.
In a statement released last week, Sec. Mayorkas said, “I applaud the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union for joining us in promoting responsible trade that protects and advances the rights of workers around the world. The regulation adopted across the European market will strengthen our joint enforcement efforts and make it harder for unscrupulous companies to profit from forced labor, while helping to ensure the resilience and predictability of our interconnected supply chains.” Read the European Parliament’s news release about the new ban.
