The Trump administration’s recent decision to remove sanctions on former Serb Republic President Milorad Dodik was a “mistake” because it "prematurely" gave up “leverage” it needs to promote stability in the Western Balkans, a foreign policy expert told a congressional panel Dec. 2.

Reps. Max Miller, R-Ohio, and Jefferson Shreve, R-Ind., introduced a bill Dec. 1 that would broaden the authority of the Bureau of Industry and Security to place companies on its Entity List.

Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del., announced Dec. 4 that they have introduced a bill to codify into law the Trump administration’s current limits on what advanced AI chips can be sold to China and other foreign “adversaries.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved several sanctions and export control bills Dec. 3, including the Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act, which would require a review of whether individuals or entities included on certain sanctions lists should be included on other sanctions lists (see 2507070022).

Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., ranking member on the Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, urged the Trump administration Dec. 3 to block the sale of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China, saying the advanced semiconductors could enhance the country’s military and surveillance capabilities.

Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, and Del. James Moylan, R-Guam, announced Dec. 3 that they have introduced a bill aimed at protecting whistleblowers who report defense export control violations.

House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, R-N.Y., and Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., who chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, introduced a bill Dec. 1 that would require the president to sanction foreign entities, individuals and vessels that engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, introduced a bill Nov. 25 that would authorize the president to sanction foreign agencies, entities and individuals who launch cyberattacks against critical U.S. infrastructure.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2026 financial services and general government appropriations bill Nov. 24 that would fully fund the Trump administration’s request for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The Trump administration intends to address sanctions in a plan it is preparing to counter violence against Christians in Nigeria, a State Department official told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Nov. 20.