The Senate approved by voice vote late on Oct. 9 an amendment to the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would restrict U.S. outbound investment in China.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week removed from the Specially Designated Nationals List a Turkey-based entity that had originally been targeted for posing a Russia-related secondary sanctions risk. The agency deleted three aliases for the entity known as North Star Shipyard, Kuzey Star Shipyard Denizcilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, and Kuzey Star Shipyard Maritime Industry and Trade Inc. OFAC didn't provide more information.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said late Oct. 7 that he hopes to have the Senate take up his Russia sanctions and tariff bill by month’s end to send a message to next month’s Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Canada.
The Senate voted 51-47 along party lines late Oct. 7 to confirm a group of nominees including David Peters to lead the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement, Thomas DiNanno to be undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and Jacob Helberg to be undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.
The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has asked to begin a criminal prosecution of two Latvian nationals for providing prohibited project management services to Russian companies, violating European Union sanctions, it announced Oct. 1.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, proposed a bill that would require the executive branch to form an interagency task force to identify Chinese entities that could be sanctioned for supporting an attempt by China to take over Taiwan.
The Council of the European Union on Oct. 3 renewed its individual sanctions on those responsible for Russia's hybrid activities, including "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) against the EU and its member states and partners," for one year. The restrictions, which cover 47 people and 15 entities, now run until Oct. 9, 2026.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced a bill Sept. 29 that's designed to protect American companies that are sued in federal court for complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls, especially those against Russia.
The U.S. ambassador to NATO suggested this week that the Trump administration won’t sign off on any new Russia sanctions until all EU and NATO members stop buying Russian energy.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week fined British Virgin Islands-based company Hallewell Ventures and its owner, Albert Avdolyan, $374,474 for violating sanctions against Russia. BIS said Hallewell illegally reexported a Bombardier Global 7500 jet from the Maldives to Russia without a license.