The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade released its August report on the U.K. Strategic Export Control Lists, detailing which military dual-use items need export licenses. The 298-page report covers export controls for the U.K.’s Military List, Dual-Use List, Security and Human Rights List and Radioactive Source List. The report also covers the European Union’s Non-military Firearm List, Human Rights List and Dual-Use List. The report summarizes the text of current export control legislation.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Aug. 16 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

China announced plans to improve procedures at Ningbo Customs, including “optimizing the customs clearance process” and “improving the business environment at the port,” China’s General Administration of Customs said in an Aug. 16 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The changes include China’s new two-step declaration process, aimed at allowing importers to more quickly submit declarations (see 1908150031). Ningbo Customs will also introduce an “‘advance declaration’ customs clearance mode” for imports and exports to improve clearance time, the notice said.

Vietnam Customs issued guidance on new requirements for its "list of imported goods subject to customs clearance at the import border gate," Vietnam Customs' mouthpiece CustomsNews said Aug. 16. The guidance details where border clearance must occur for goods on the list, as well as treatment of goods in bonded warehouses. The changes take effect Sept. 1.

In preparation for a public hearing on China's compliance with its World Trade Organization commitments, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments at regulations,gov, docket number is USTR-2019-0010. Comments and requests to testify are due by midnight EDT Sept. 18, The hearing will be held Oct. 2 by the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee at 1724 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., beginning at 9:30 a.m.

South Korean and Japanese officials will meet in Beijing this week amid the countries’ trade dispute over export controls, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Aug. 16. The meeting is the first between the foreign ministers of the two sides in three years, South Korea said, and will feature the foreign minister of China as well. South Korea also said it is trying to hold separate bilateral talks with both Japan and China “on the sidelines” of the meeting in Beijing. The meetings, which South Korea said will take place Aug. 20-22, come as both Japan and South Korea are entrenched in a trade dispute dating back to July 1, when Japan announced restrictions on exports to South Korea involving chemicals needed to make computer chips and other high-tech goods (see 1907010020).

The United Nations Security Council added two people to its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida Sanctions List, the council said in an Aug. 14 press release. Ali Maychou, a Moroccan national and member of al-Qaida, and Bah Ag Moussa, a founding member of Ansar Eddine, a militant Islamist group, were sanctioned. The sanctions imposed asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes on Maychou and Moussa.

The State Department announced sanctions on the former director general of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, the agency said in an Aug. 14 press release. Salah Abdalla Mohamed Mohamed Salih was sanctioned for “gross violations of human rights,” including accusations of torture, while he was head of Sudan’s NISS, the press release said. The State Department is also sanctioning Salih’s family members: Awatif Ahmed Seed Ahmed Mohamed and Shima Salah Abdallah Mohamed.

The Congressional Research Service released an Aug. 14 report on U.S. sanctions against Russia, including details about the first and second round of sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act. The report details the sanctions’ targets, purposes and how they can be lifted or waived.

Gibraltar released an Iranian tanker it had seized for possible violations of European Union sanctions, rejecting requests from the U.S. to continue detaining the ship.