Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs announced June 3 that starting June 14, the export of nitrocellulose to Russia and Belarus will be banned, according to an unofficial translation. The move comes after the island banned the export of 77 "machine tools" to the two nations earlier this year, the ministry said. Nitrocellulose is a "key component of smokeless gunpowder" and has already been designated as a controlled item in the U.S. and the EU. The ministry also reminded traders that the fine for first-time illegal exports to Russia and Belarus "has been significantly increased" to about $138,000.
Dimitry Timashev, a dual U.S. and Russian citizen, pleaded guilty on June 7 to illegally exporting firearm parts and ammunition to Russia, DOJ announced.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a bill last week that would reauthorize the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act for five years. The 2019 law, which expires later this year, requires the president to sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. Rubio's bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Four Republican senators asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a letter last week to explain why her department hasn’t made greater use of its authority to sanction those who commit human rights violations against China’s Uyghur minority.
The U.K. last week updated the listing for International Gateways Group of Company Limited under its Myanmar sanctions regime. The listing changed the name of the firm from International Gateways Group of Companies to International Gateways Group of Company and the address of the entity. The U.K. also said the company has been involved in the "repression of the civilian population in Myanmar" and the "commission of serious human rights violations" in the nation.
Switzerland, following the EU's lead, sanctioned two people and one entity for allegedly spreading propaganda promoting Russia's war in Ukraine. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs listed former Ukrainian politicians Artem Marchevskyi and Viktor Medvedchuk, along with the Voice of Europe media outlet. The EU sanctioned these same parties last month (see 2405280062). Switzerland also amended the listings of 12 people and 17 entities under its Russia sanctions regime.
The U.S. last week removed sanctions from a Swiss business consultant, his two sons and his companies because they ended their business in Russia, a Treasury Department spokesperson said.
U.S. export controls on quantum technologies would be premature, because quantum is “in its infancy” and researchers are still studying its potential, said Sam Howell, an adjunct associate fellow with the Center for a New American Security’s Technology and National Security Program. “A lot of uncertainty” is around quantum, and so the impact of export controls on the technology's future is also unclear, she said.
Although the U.S. and the EU have been collaborating more closely on technology export controls and supply chain due diligence laws, there are still “massive questions” about whether those controls will extend to more mature-node semiconductors and how new EU supply chain laws are going to affect companies doing business in Europe, said U.S.-EU trade and security consultant Frances Burwell.
The nearly 700 companies that the Bureau of Industry and Security has flagged for potentially sending export controlled goods to Russia include foreign suppliers in China, Turkey, India and others across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, according to a list obtained by Export Compliance Daily.