The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced revision of anti-boycott regulations to cease listing Israel as a boycotter because Israel requests American exporters not to ship Israeli-bound goods via Arab ports.
The Commerce Department had previously issued reports equating the Arab boycott of Israel with alleged Israeli “boycott” practices against Arab states in dealings with American business firms. Israel was listed as committing numerous “boycott” actions merely because American exporters were asked to safeguard Israel-bound cargoes to avoid confiscation in hostile Arab seaports.
The Department’s change of policy was revealed in the official current export bulletin. The export regulations require U.S. exporters to report requests for any action or for information which has the effect of furthering or supporting foreign restrictive trade practices or boycotts.
It was explained by the Commerce Department that “some U.S. exporters have reported requests regarding the use, or intended use, of shipping or transportation facilities of a designated country. In many of these instances, the request for action or information was made only to avoid the risk of confiscation of the commodities and to assure safe arrival of the shipment. After some experience with this type of reporting, the Bureau of International Commerce has concluded that such a request is not a restrictive trade practice under the terms of the legislation nor under the export regulations.
“Therefore,” said the Commerce Department, “the export regulations have been revised to make it clear that the requirement that U.S. exporters shall report requests for information or action in support of foreign restrictive trade practices or boycotts does not apply to either:
“I. A request or restriction solely precluding the export of commodities to the importing country on shipping or transportation facilities owned, controlled, operated or chartered by a country, or a national of a country, friendly to the United States but not friendly to the importing country; or
“2. A request or restriction solely precluding the export of commodities to the importing country on a carrier which stops, prior to stopping at the port of unloading, at a port in a country friendly to the United States but not friendly to the importing country.” The bulletin said U.S. exporters are no longer required to report to the Office of Export Control on the foregoing situations.
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