The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a new general license last week that allows the government's revenue and customs agency to make certain payments to the frozen bank account of a person sanctioned under U.K. authorities. The revenue agency also may "set-off" the "amount of any Permitted Payment (as a credit) against any liability of the same UK [sanctioned person] to pay an amount to that Revenue Authority (as a debit)." The license took effect Sept. 26.

The U.K. this week published two new guidance documents that track exceptions and previous amendments to its Russia sanctions regime. The guidance allows users to search through a list of all Russia sanctions exceptions that the U.K. has introduced, as well as a list of the "statutory instruments" that have made changes to those sanctions and descriptions of the changes made.

The EU and Indonesia concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement, the European Commission announced Sept. 22. The EU said the deals are a "key milestone" in "strengthening trade and investment ties with a major economy" and "creating new export opportunities and more secure supply chains for energy and raw materials."

The European Commission on Sept. 23 imposed antidumping duties on glyoxylic acid from China. The duties, which range from 29.2% to 124.9%, follow an investigation that found that glyoxylic acid from China is harming the EU industry. Glyoxylic acid is primarily used in the "pharmaceutical, food, fertiliser and cosmetics industries," the commission said.

The U.K. this week published a new "starter guide" for its sanctions programs and laws, including information on who must comply with sanctions; sanctions lists and sanctions screening; ownership and control standards; exceptions and licensing; sanctions circumvention; carrying out due diligence; and more.

The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published a new license last week that authorizes certain transactions related to news media services. The license allows the provision of "goods or services" that "are necessary for the provision of News Media Services," along with activities that are "reasonably necessary to effect the receipt or provision of News Media Services, including making or receiving Permitted Payments." The license also authorizes U.K. financial institutions to process those payments.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he and President Donald Trump discussed how to "decisively increase the pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin "to get him to agree to a peace deal."

The European Commission on Sept. 16 proposed a new agenda to "raise bilateral relations with India to a higher level." The proposal includes measures to boost defense industrial cooperation, and the commission said it supports launching negotiations for a "Security of Information Agreement to facilitate classified information exchange," which "will support closer security and defence cooperation." The commission also called for closer cooperation in addressing Russia's war in Ukraine, "shadow fleets, and sanctions." The proposal also mentions finalizing the ongoing EU-India Free Trade Agreement talks and reinforcing supply chains "while promoting critical emerging technologies and engagement on digital issues, with particular attention to strengthening economic security within the Trade and Technology Council."

The U.K.'s secretary of state for business and trade, Peter Kyle, visited China Sept. 10-11, where he raised Britain's concerns "on national and economic security issues," including the continued "provision of military support to Russia" by Chinese companies, the ministry said last week. Kyle also spoke with Beijing about Chinese export controls on rare earths (see 2507070005) and how they impact supply chains, and he "challenged the Chinese government on the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and human rights concerns."

Norway is launching a new export licensing system on Sept. 25 that it's expecting will improve the "user experience," the Norwegian Agency for Export Control and Sanctions said this week, according to an unofficial translation. The new system will feature new templates for licenses, the agency said, "and a decision letter with information will accompany each license." It also will make it "easier" for users to manage licenses for more than one company if they "represent multiple businesses and enterprises," allow users "access to new case types such as sanctions and sanctions reporting and general transfer licenses," and improve communication between the government and license applicants through SMS notifications.