Four House Republicans said last week they’re concerned the Biden administration is considering giving small and medium-sized businesses in Cuba access to the U.S. banking system even though such entities are generally controlled by Cuba's communist government.
The Bureau of Industry and Security sent a proposed rule for interagency review that could lead to new export controls on the activities of U.S. persons in support of foreign military, security or intelligence agencies.
Some technology companies and industry groups were supportive of an ongoing effort by the Bureau of Industry’s Security to stop advanced artificial intelligence models from being used by dangerous end-users, but many also said the agency’s proposed know-your-customer regulations for U.S. cloud service providers should be tweaked or rewritten. Others said the new KYC rules could place too heavy a burden on cloud service providers and could undermine trust in American providers.
Estonian Bank LHV Pank said it plans to contest in court a $322,000 fine by the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit for violating Estonia's International Sanctions Act."LHV Pank does not agree with the FIU’s resolution and plans to contest it in court," the bank said. "LHV Pank takes regulatory compliance very seriously and has put in place all necessary solutions to meet all due diligence obligations related to financial sanctions."
China voiced its opposition to the Bureau of Industry and Security's recent move to add 37 Chinese technology companies, manufacturing firms, research institutions and others to the Entity List (see 2405090023), saying Beijing will "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," according to an unofficial translation of a news release that highlights a response to a reporter's question at a Beijing press conference. A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson accused the U.S. of "overextending" its concept of national security and said it has "abused" its export control measures.
Iran’s military is accessing advanced research and technology through the collaboration between Iranian and Swedish universities, according to a report this month from United Against Nuclear Iran, a nonprofit that says it works to “combat the threats” posed by the Iranian government. UANI said it has found eight Swedish universities that have “formed partnerships” with Iranian universities with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, allowing the U.S.-sanctioned IRGC to “procure research and technology for the Iranian regime’s military programs.”
Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland on May 9 signed an agreement that they said will align export control enforcement practices and increase information sharing across their customs agencies, particularly for illegal shipments to Russia, the countries announced.
The House Select Committee on China announced last week it has begun investigating Georgia Institute of Technology’s research collaboration with China’s Tianjin University, which has “significant ties” to China's military and has been on the Commerce Department’s Entity List since 2020 (see 2012180039).
Canada last week announced a new set of sanctions against people linked to the terror group Hamas or Iran’s military. The designations target Khaled Qaddoumi, Ali Morshed Shirazi, Mostafa Mohammad Khani and Ali Ahmad Faizullahi, who Canada said has offered military training, resources or other support to “help bolster Hamas’ terrorist capabilities.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week renewed a Venezuela-related general license to extend the current authorization for certain transactions with the country’s state-owned energy company. General License No. 8N, which replaces No. 8M (see 2311160051), authorizes certain transactions between Petroleos de Venezuela and Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International, with certain restrictions, through 12:01 a.m. EST Nov. 15. The license was scheduled to expire May 16.