Multiple countries this week objected to President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of new reciprocal tariffs against trading partners (see 2504020072), saying they either plan to retaliate or are assessing how to respond.
Members of the Bureau of Industry and Security's Materials and Equipment Technical Advisory Committee were asked during their April 3 meeting to sign or re-sign non-disclosure agreements as Trump administration officials review how the TACs operate.
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week revoked the export privileges of a Kenya-based company and two people for trying to illegally export airplane parts from the U.S. to Russia, including by lying to American freight forwarders and other businesses about where the parts would be sent. It also warned that the company and people are continuing to try to illegally buy export controlled parts from American businesses.
The U.S. this week unsealed an indictment charging José Adolfo Macías Villamar, leader of the Ecuadorian drug trafficking group Los Choneros, with smuggling firearms from the U.S. along with other drug and weapons-related charges. DOJ said Macías Villamar helped Los Choneros obtain firearms and weapons by illegally trafficking and exporting them from the U.S., including by hiring people to buy guns in the U.S. and smuggle them to Ecuador.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said April 2 that he will be disappointed if the Trump administration reaches a deal with China’s ByteDance that leaves the company in control of TikTok.
The Treasury Department’s recent sanctioning of a Chinese oil refinery for buying and refining Iranian crude (see 2503200014) was a "great first step" but should be expanded to other refineries to ensure Tehran's energy revenue is significantly reduced, a researcher told a congressional panel April 1.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced a bill April 1 to sanction Russia and its supporters if Moscow refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine in good faith or undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty after a peace deal is reached.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 2 released quarterly reports on certain licensing activities for Iran, covering the period from October 2024 through December 2024. The reports provide licensing statistics for exports of agricultural goods, medicine and medical devices as required by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.
The U.K. on April 2 added 12 people and one entity to its global anti-corruption sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added Russian non-profit Evrazia for its ties to sanctioned Israeli-born Russian oligarch Ilan Shor. The listed individuals include board members of Evrazia and members of the judiciary in Guatemala and Georgia.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 2 removed Russian national Karina Rotenberg, also known as Karina Gapchuk Fox, from its Specially Designated Nationals List. Rotenberg was sanctioned for allegedly helping her husband, Russian businessman Boris Rotenberg, evade sanctions, according to OpenSanctions.org. Boris Rotenberg was designated in 2014. OFAC didn’t release more information.