Covington lawyers expect the upcoming Polish presidency of the Council of the EU, running from January to June, to make “significant strides” around technology and trade issues, the firm said in a December client alert.
The Netherlands said it’s seeing an uptick in exports of sanctioned goods to countries with a history of helping Russia evade sanctions, with many of those exports being sent by smaller firms that entered the market within the last couple of years.
The EU this month issued new guidance on its sanctions for importing Russian diamonds, describing the types of diamonds subject to trade restrictions, explaining how the restrictions apply to jewelry that incorporates Russian diamonds, outlining a new mandatory diamond traceability mechanism, and more.
A nationwide injunction stopping the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements from taking effect was reinstated last week, making it so certain companies won't have to comply with the law's reporting rules next month.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list e 4-chloromethcathinone, a central nervous system stimulant, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 27. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess) or propose to handle 4-chloromethcathinone.” Comments are due Jan. 29.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced new sanctions last week against seven companies for their involvement with arms sales to Taiwan, targeting Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International. The ministry said the sanctions freeze their Chinese assets and block them from doing certain business with Chinese companies. China has issued several rounds of designations against American firms for arms sales to Taiwan in recent months (see 2412050011, 2410100005, 2409180004 and 2407120011).
The U.S. on Dec. 27 sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian oligarch and former Georgian prime minister. The State Department said Ivanishvili was sanctioned for "undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of" Russia, and he has also contributed to human rights abuses in the country.
Congress and the executive branch should use a mix of export controls and foreign investment restrictions to prevent China from using biotechnology to commit human rights abuses, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in its 2024 annual report.
The Commerce Department’s fall 2024 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security features a host of new rules that could soon update U.S. export controls, including restrictions on aircraft engines, biological equipment and reporting requirements for certain weapons sales, AI chips.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced a bill Dec. 20 to sanction Turkey if it doesn't renew a recently expired ceasefire between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).