In the first formal round of negotiations with Taiwan, the U.S. will present texts it would like to see adopted on good regulatory practices, trade facilitation and other areas, but not on lowering tariffs for U.S. exports, as that is beyond the scope of the 21st Century Trade Initiative.
China announced the imposition of quarantine and hygienic requirements for imports of "edible aquatic animals" from The Comoros, the General Administration of Customs announced, according to an unofficial translation. The restrictions apply to crustaceans, fish and molluscs from the African archipelago that are shipped to China for consumption. Comorian exporting entities will be required to obtain Chinese registration qualifications and should establish and implement a self-inspection, self-control and traceability system for the safety and hygiene of the edible aquatic animals, among other requirements.
Canada this week sanctioned two government officials and three entities in Iran for their roles in human rights violations, including efforts to suppress Iranian voices speaking out against the current regime. The designations target Vahid Yaminpour, Iran’s deputy minister of sports and youth, and Mohsen Qomi, a “senior regime insider” and member of the Press Supervisory Board and Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Canada also sanctioned the 15 Khordad Foundation, an “untaxed revolutionary foundation that enriches Iranian kleptocrats”; the Iran Newspaper, an official “disinformation” publication of Iran; and The Press Supervisory Board, which is used by the Iranian government to “arbitrarily shut down news outlets.” The U.S. sanctioned Qomi in 2020 (see 2001100050) and the 15 Khordad Foundation last year (see 2210280034).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week issued Venezuela-related General License 31B, which replaces General License 31A (see 2101040025), authorizes U.S. persons to engage in transactions otherwise prohibited by sanctions involving the Venezuelan National Assembly seated on Jan. 5, 2016, and associated entities and people. The new license removes a reference to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, since he was ousted by the opposition party's National Assembly last month. OFAC also amended five frequently asked questions related to the license and the Venezeula sanctions.
The State Department published its fall 2022 regulatory agenda, including planned publication dates for rules to amend the U.S. Munitions List, revise defense trade regulations surrounding the definition of a “regular employee” and expand the types of defense articles and services that can be exported to certain close U.S. allies.
The U.K. updated or amended four of its General Licenses under its Russia sanctions regime, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said last week. The licenses pertain to the oil price cap, "winddown" of positions subject to the oil price cap, correspondent banking and payment processing and projects and countries' exemption from the oil price cap.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on Jan. 5 revoked the export privileges of three people after they tried to illegally export guns and ammunition.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control added seven people to its Specially Designated Nationals List in connection with Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle shipments to Russia, it said in a Jan. 6 news release. The designees are six executives and board members of previously designated Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), an Iranian defense manufacturer that designs and produces UAVs being transferred to Russia for use in Ukraine. OFAC also sanctioned the director of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization, the "key organization responsible for overseeing Iran’s ballistic missile programs." The agency also updated QAI’s entry on the SDN List to include its new alias, Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura discussed export control and semiconductor issues during a meeting last week. The two spoke about the “importance of working together to promote and protect critical and emerging technologies, including through [research and development] and export controls, so as to support our technological competitiveness and to address our shared security interests,” Commerce said in a brief readout of the meeting. Executives from IBM and Japan's Rapidus also took part in the meeting “to share an overview of their ongoing collaboration on semiconductor R&D.” The meeting took place as Commerce solicits public comments, due Jan. 17, on priorities for export control cooperation with Japan (see 2211300003).
A revision to U.S. export regulations included in the fiscal year 2023 defense spending bill could lead to new end-use screening obligations for U.S. people and companies operating abroad, Akin Gump said in a Jan. 5 client alert. Although it remains unclear how and when the Bureau of Industry and Security will implement the change, the law firm said it could lead to new restrictions on activities that support foreign military, security or intelligence services even if the activity doesn’t involve technology subject to the Export Administration Regulations.