The Biden administration continues to consider imposing additional sanctions to reduce China’s export of dual-use goods to Russia’s defense industrial base, a State Department official told a congressional panel July 30.
The U.S. sanctioned two more people and four companies in China and Yemen that have helped procure weapons for the Yemen-based Houthis, allowing the group to continue attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea and civilians in Israel, the Treasury Department said this week.
China will increase and revise export controls on certain drones, drone parts, infrared imaging equipment and other dual-use items and technology, the country’s Commerce Ministry announced July 31. The new controls, which take effect Sept. 1, name certain drone engines, radar, lasers, “inertial measurement devices,” radio communication equipment, anti-jamming equipment and more, according to an unofficial translation. Exporters will have to apply for and receive licenses for certain shipments, and violators could face both administrative and criminal penalties.
A new U.S. rule expected this month could expand restrictions on foreign exports of certain chip equipment to China but exclude chipmakers in the Netherlands, Japan and South Korea, Reuters reported July 31.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo rejecting the Chevron principle of deferring to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous statutes doesn't call for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to revisit a decision sustaining the sanctions designation of former Afghan government official Mir Rahman Rahmani and his son, Hafi Ajmal Rahmani, the U.S. said this week (Mir Rahman Rahmani v. Janet Yellen, D.D.C. # 24-00285).
Companies should expect the Treasury Department to aggressively penalize violators of its upcoming outbound investment prohibitions relatively soon after those rules are finalized, lawyers with Kirkland & Ellis said this week. They also said American chip companies and other technology firms are considering inserting new outbound investment-related warranties in their contracts and may start pulling out of existing investment deals that could soon be captured by the new prohibitions.
Robert Viglietta is starting a new role within the Office of Foreign Assets Control as a public affairs officer after about two years as a senior sanctions coordinator for the agency, he announced on LinkedIn. Viglietta said he will use his “experience as a sanctions practitioner” to help with OFAC public engagement.
David Horn was named assistant chief counsel for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, he announced on LinkedIn. Horn joined OFAC last year as an attorney adviser.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has completed hiring leaders as part of a restructuring of its export administration offices, the agency announced July 30. The latest hire, Julia Khersonsky, a former State Department foreign affairs officer, joined the Bureau of Industry and Security this month as the agency’s first deputy assistant secretary for strategic trade, where she will oversee the offices of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls, Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance, and Exporter Services. BIS earlier this year appointed longtime BIS officials Matt Borman to be the agency’s new principal deputy assistant secretary and Eric Longnecker to be its new deputy assistant secretary for technology security (see 2405070005). BIS announced its internal restructuring plans at its annual conference in March.
To punish the Venezuelan government for trying to “steal” the country’s presidential election, the Biden administration should impose sanctions and revoke oil licenses, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said July 30. McCaul is one of several Republican lawmakers pushing for sanctions against Venezuela. Senior administration officials said this week they are considering “consequences,” including sanctions, in response to the recent election (see 2407290044).