A new alert published this week by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network warns banks about Mexico-based criminal groups trying to smuggle large amounts of cash from the U.S. financial system into Mexico, where “they can be accessed again to fund their criminal enterprises.” The alert includes an overview of how cartels and other groups may be trying to move that money, lists various red flags banks should monitor, and asks banks to file suspicious activity reports with FinCEN.
The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence criticized the Bureau of Industry and Security's decision last week to add the research organization to the Entity List and urged BIS to remove it (see 2503250075). "Artificial intelligence is a shared resource for humanity, akin to electricity and other transformative technological advancements," the academy said, according to a report from state-run news outlet China Daily. "The US decision contradicts the spirit of scientific innovation and global cooperation, severely undermining openness in AI research and development.” The academy was added for allegedly trying to buy export-controlled U.S. items to develop large AI models and advanced semiconductors for China’s military.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Four Democratic lawmakers said this week that the Bureau of Industry and Security’s plans to pull back from traditional export control dialogues with allies, including the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council, will reduce international collaboration and make it harder to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of China.
Costa Rica and Albania edged closer to acceding to the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Government Procurement after members of the Committee on Government Procurement "welcomed the market access offers recently submitted" by the two nations, the WTO said. During a March 26 meeting of the committee, WTO members acknowledged the final market access offers from Costa Rica and Albania, which were submitted in January. WTO members also agreed to boost access to historical government procurement agreement documents.
The EU on March 31 launched the application process for authorized “declarants” under its upcoming carbon border adjustment mechnaism, which will allow importers and customs representatives to import CBAM goods when the rules take effect in January 2026 (see 2502060060). The European Commission also published new guidance and videos to help companies apply.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is planning to visit six countries in the coming months as part of an "aggressive" effort to "expand markets and boost American agricultural exports," the agency said last week. Rollins will travel to Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil and the U.K. She's also scheduling trade missions to Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Cote d’Ivoire and Mexico.
Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., plans to reintroduce a bill that would impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who undermine the 1995 peace agreement that ended the Bosnian War, a spokesperson said in an e-mail March 25. The Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act is aimed at pro-secession Bosnian Serb leaders. The House passed the bill by a wide margin in the last Congress (see 2403190069).
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, introduced a resolution March 27 that would form a bipartisan House committee to develop policy recommendations to counter Mexican drug cartels.
House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., and Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., urged the Trump administration March 31 to investigate whether China’s Yantai iRay Technology Co. Ltd. is evading U.S. sanctions by selling its thermal imaging products in the U.S. through subsidiaries and other affiliated entities.