No world economy raised the three red flags necessary to trigger increased U.S. bilateral engagement and possible sanctions to counter unfair currency manipulation through procedures outlined by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), according to a Treasury report to Congress on the foreign exchange policies of major U.S. trading partners, released Oct. 17. However, Treasury has continued naming China, Japan, Korea, Germany and Switzerland on the "monitoring list." Treasury removed Taiwan from the monitoring list after the nation met only one out of three criteria -- a material account surplus -- for two consecutive reports. Countries meeting two out of all three criteria necessary to warrant classification as a currency manipulator are placed on the monitoring list.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added four entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under nonproliferation and Iran designations, and updated the SDN entry for one entity, OFAC said. OFAC also published three frequently asked questions related to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 and the SDN list update.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau will allow for comments until Jan. 9, 2018, on its proposal to amend its regulations on the production of wine, it said in a notice. The proposed changes affect the permissible treatments that may be applied to wine and to juice from which wine is made (see 1611220028).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed two individuals from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under transnational criminal organization designations, OFAC said (here and here).

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is reopening the period for comments on its proposal to amend its labeling and record-keeping regulations to tighten requirements for certain grape wines exempt from labeling approval, it said in a notice. Under the agency’s June 22 proposed rule (see 1606220010), grape wines with an alcohol content higher than 7 percent but exempt from labeling approval would still have to comply with TTB standards for labeling of varietal (grape type) designations, type designations of varietal significance, vintage dates and appellations of origin. The agency already reopened the comment period once before (see 1609070025). Comments are now due Jan. 9, 2018.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added 26 individuals and 10 entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under North Korea designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added 11 individuals and one entity to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under Kingpin Act designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added seven individuals and one entity to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under cybersecurity designations, two entities under counterterrorism designations, and one entity under nonproliferation designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added three individuals and four entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under Kingpin Act designations, and updated two individuals and two entities under Kingpin Act designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added one individual to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under counterterrorism designations, OFAC said.