House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said Oct. 16 that he welcomes Senate passage of a bill last week to restrict U.S. outbound investment in China.
Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Rick Crawford, R-Ark., reintroduced a bill Oct. 14 that would prohibit China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying or controlling agricultural land and businesses in the U.S. The Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act was referred to the House Financial Services, Foreign Affairs and Energy and Commerce committees. The lawmakers previously introduced the measure in the last Congress.
The U.K. on Oct. 16 amended one entry under its Russia sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated the listing for German Valentinovich Belous, director of Russian financial services company Novikombank, to describe his involvement in obtaining benefits from the Russian government.
The U.K.’s lead sanctions agency is expecting penalty decisions in a range of Russia-related enforcement actions next year, it said in its annual report released this week.
Serena Tang, who recently left her position as a trial attorney at the Federal Maritime Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance (see 2509290029), is joining law firm Husch Blackwell, she announced on LinkedIn Oct. 14.
Poland on Oct. 10 sanctioned Armen Harutyunyan, who it said manages companies that export nitrogen fertilizers from Belarus to Poland and other EU countries. Harutyunyan is or was the owner or controller of Polish company TST PL, United Arab Emirates-based World Chem Trading Co. and Belarus-based Technospetstrading, Poland said. He's also the indirect owner of Belarus-based Technospetstradingexport LLC.
China's Foreign Ministry this week objected to the Netherlands' takeover of Chinese-owned semiconductor firm Nexperia, saying China "opposes overstretching the concept of national security and discriminatory moves against companies in certain countries." According to an unofficial translation, a ministry spokesperson said during an Oct. 15 press conference that "the relevant country should abide by market principles and refrain from politicizing trade issues. China is firmly resolved in safeguarding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests."
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) unveiled dozens of recommendations Oct. 10 that it said would make the U.S. arms sales process more predictable, efficient and transparent.
The Bureau of Industry and Security recently updated its FAQs on the export control seminars that it holds for businesses and organizations looking to comply with the Export Administration Regulations or obtain continuing legal education credits. The FAQs cover who should attend the seminars, how organizations can request a seminar, how to partner with BIS on a seminar, what topics are usually covered and more.
Chinese drone maker SZ DJI Technology said this week that it will appeal a recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denying the company's challenge to its designation as a Chinese military company. DJI will take the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (SZ DJI Technology v. U.S. Department of Defense, D.D.C. # 24-02970).