China last week announced sanctions against two U.S. defense companies for supporting U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The designations, imposed under China's anti-foreign sanctions law (see 2310230032), target General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems by freezing their assets in China and placing travel bans on their senior managers, according to an unofficial translation of an April 11 notice from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two companies didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The U.S. and the EU last week announced coordinated sanctions against Hamas by targeting people and entities with ties to the terror group.
The U.S. and the U.K. on April 12 expanded certain restrictions on Russia-related metals, including a new services ban on Russian aluminum, copper and nickel.
U.S. companies should expect more retaliation from China if the Bureau of Industry and Security adds more major Chinese technology firms to its Entity List this year, Paul Trulio, a China and technology policy expert, said during an event last week hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Trulio and other panelists also said it’s unclear exactly how a possible second Trump administration may tweak U.S. export control policy toward Beijing, but they said it’s possible former President Donald Trump, if reelected, could significantly increase restrictions on Chinese firms through potential financial sanctions and may pressure allies to do the same.
Switzerland on April 10 adopted the EU's sanctions listing of six individuals who support Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Federal Council announced. Switzerland also adopted the EU's Guatemala listing of five individuals and its Sudan designations of six entities. The council said the new measures "contain exceptions for humanitarian activities." They entered into force on April 10.
The U.K. Gambling Commission last week charged British sportsbook Bet365 over $729,000 for "anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures." The commission said the anti-money laundering violations included "failing to undertake financial sanctions checks on new customers prior to their first deposits" and "failing to undertake independent verification checks and [over-reliance] on customers' annual self-verification of know your customer information, such as identification documents."
The Council of the EU on March 12 extended the sanctions regime for those that threaten the sovereignty of Ukraine for another six months, until Sept. 15. The sanctions apply to over 2,100 individuals and entities.
The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on April 10 amended its general sanctions license allowing for the winding down of interactions with Turkish shipping companies Active Denizcilik and Beks Ships. OFSI removed the language barring funds or economic resources from being made available "for the benefit of any designated person."
China said it “strongly” opposes the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision this week to add Chinese companies to the Entity List, calling on the U.S. to “stop politicizing trade and tech issues and turning them into weapons.” The listings targeted several Chinese firms for allegedly procuring export controlled items for China’s military modernization efforts or for Russia’s military (see 2404100018), but a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told reporters at a regular press conference April 11 that China and Russia “have the right to normal economic and trade cooperation, and such cooperation should not come under external interference or constraint.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security is looking for new candidates to serve on each of its six technical advisory committees, the agency said this week. The TAC members -- selected from industry, academia and government -- will help advise the Commerce Department on export controls and may serve terms of not more than four consecutive years. Applicants should send a resume and other required information to Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov by June 11.