China, which has imposed export controls on critical minerals in recent years to retaliate against foreign trade restrictions, is expected to continue doing so, a researcher told the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission April 24.

The Bureau of Industry and Security said April 24 that it added 18 entities to its Unverified List after it was unable to verify the “legitimacy and reliability” of the parties through end-use checks, including their ability to responsibly receive controlled U.S. exports. It also removed five companies from the list.

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman that she had a meeting with USTR Jamieson Greer "yesterday that was a little bit comforting," but that the current 10% U.S. tariff on most countries, plus 25% tariffs on cars, steel and aluminum and some products from Canada and Mexico, and 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, if it lasts, will result in global merchandise trade falling by 0.2%. Before the actions, the WTO forecast a 2.7% growth in goods trade this year.

The U.K. on April 22 extended its countervailing duty on biodiesel from Argentina for five years following a review of the duties by the Trade Remedies Authority. The extension takes effect April 23 and ends Feb. 13, 2029. The U.K. also excluded sustainable aviation fuel from the scope of the duties as part of its decision. The duties themselves range from 25% to 33.4% and include a 33.4% rate for all non-individually examined companies.

Malaysia recently launched the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), which will consolidate point of entry inspection functions from several government agencies, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service said in an April 22 report. AKPS took over inspections at 22 entry points in February and is expected to control all 114 entry points by 2026.

The State Department has approved a possible $46 million military sale to Ireland, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said April 23. The sale includes “FGM-148 Javelin Missiles and Lightweight Command Launch Units and related elements of logistics and program support,” and the principal contractor will be the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp.

The leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urged the Trump administration April 21 to give Syria additional sanctions relief to help stabilize the war-torn country.

House Select Committee on China ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., is expected to run to replace Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who announced April 23 that he will not seek re-election next year. Krishnamoorthi has been active on a wide range of export control issues, such as pushing to curb shipments of advanced computing chips to China (see 2501300067).

The U.S. should designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) for its destabilizing activities in North Africa, according to a new Hudson Institute report.

The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on April 23 added three FAQs to address issues surrounding the use of sanctions licenses that mention Rosbank PJSC and Bank Otkritie.