A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge on Dec. 8 dismissed a complaint against non-vessel-operating common carrier Ship4wd, saying Oklahoma-based importer EcoBamboo failed to show that a Shipping Act violation occurred.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is seeking public comments on one information collection related to nontransfer and use certificates and another involving Part 130 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Chinese lidar company Hesai Technology filed its opening brief in its appeal of its case contesting its designation as a "Chinese military company," arguing that the Pentagon adopted an "absurdly broad reading of" the law, Section 1260H, and that the lower court "adopted a capacious view of the [Defense] Department's listing authority and a cramped view of Hesai's obvious prejudice" (Hesai Technology v. U.S. Dep't of Defense, D.C. Cir. # 25-5256).
The U.K. on Dec. 10 removed one entry from its Iraq sanctions list. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation delisted Munir Al Qubaysi, who was sanctioned in 2004.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week extended a Russia-related general license that authorizes certain transactions for the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH -- the international business of Russian energy firm Lukoil -- and related maintenance activities. General License 131A, which replaces 131, now expires at 12:01 a.m. ET Jan. 17. The license was scheduled to expire Dec. 13 (see 2511140039).
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has sent a new final rule for interagency review that involves the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and U.S. Munitions List. The rule, sent for review Dec. 9, is titled "International Traffic in Arms Regulations: USML 2025 Supplemental Rule 2." The agency didn't release more information.
The U.S. Export Enforcement Coordination Center, an organization designed to coordinate export enforcement efforts among government agencies, hosted a workshop this week with industry officials, said Director Ivan Arvelo, who's also director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. They had "thoughtful, candid, and solutions-focused" conversations about "exactly what is needed as we navigate an increasingly complex global trade and technology environment," Arvelo said on LinkedIn.
Although his bill to restrict exports of advanced AI chips didn't make it into the final FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which lawmakers unveiled this week (see 2512080048), Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said late Dec. 9 that he's not giving up on his proposal.
President Donald Trump’s decision to allow exports of more advanced AI chips to China could deal a damaging blow to U.S. efforts to convince the Dutch and Japanese to maintain and strengthen their own export controls against China, former Biden administration national security officials said.
Dave Hanke, the staff director of the House Select Committee on China, will start a new role as counsel to committee Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., Hanke announced on LinkedIn. Hanke will begin Jan. 1, and Maseh Zarif, the committee's current director of external affairs, will replace him as staff director.