China revised certain procedures related to electronic submissions of freight manifests for road transport vehicles (see 2010090026), it said Nov. 27, according to an unofficial translation. The announcement updates an earlier notice, and contains more information on the changes to manifest submissions, which took effect Dec. 1.

China will allow imports of Mexican sorghum, the country’s General Administration of Customs said in a Nov. 30 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes inspection and quarantine requirements for the imports.

China criticized the U.S. decision this week to sanction the China National Electronics Import & Export Corp. (see 2011300035), saying it opposes U.S. unilateral sanctions and interference in Venezuela. The U.S. sanctioned the Chinese company for exporting advanced technologies and technical expertise to Venezuela. “The U.S. practice is nothing but another pretext to suppress Venezuela and relevant Chinese companies,” a ministry spokesperson said Dec. 1 during a regular press conference. “China will take necessary measures to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”

The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published a guidance Dec. 1 for its Lebanon sanctions, including details on enforcement measures and license exceptions, and how the sanctions will apply beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the day the U.K. leaves the European Union.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Jhon Fredy Zapata Garzon for supporting Clan del Golfo, a prominent drug trafficking and criminal group in Colombia, OFAC said Dec. 1. The agency also sanctioned three of Garzon’s family members and associates -- Tatiana Marguerid Zapata Garzon, Euclides Correa Salas and Einer Murillo Palacios -- and four businesses owned or controlled by Garzon and his associates -- Las Ingenierias S.A.S., Fresno Home S.A.S., Distriecor S.A.S. and Multioperaciones de Occidente S.A.S., which are used to launder money for Garzon’s drug trafficking.

China will sanction four people for promoting democracy in Hong Kong in retaliation for U.S. sanctions against officials responsible for implementing Hong Kong’s so-called national security law (see 2011090044). China’s sanctions target John Knaus, an Asia expert at the National Endowment for Democracy, National Democratic Institute official Manpreet Anand and former NDI employees Kelvin Sit and Crystal Rosario, China’s Foreign Ministry said Nov. 30. All four people will be banned from coming to China, Reuters reported Nov. 30.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Nov. 23-27 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

As China continues to gain ground in technology competition with the U.S., Congress should pursue more investment and visa restrictions to prevent China from accessing sensitive U.S. technologies, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a Dec. 1 report. Commissioners said China’s access to U.S. technologies is helping it innovate and export surveillance tools and other advanced technologies globally.

Wally Adeyemo, President-Elect Joe Biden's choice for deputy treasury secretary, served in the Obama administration as deputy director of the National Economic Council, where his portfolio was international economics, including trade. Adeyemo, who has a Yale law degree, was chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s provisions on macroeconomic policy when he served in the Treasury Department during the Obama administration. Adeyemo must be confirmed by the Senate.

China’s Commerce Ministry last week imposed steep import taxes on Australian wine, saying the wine is being unfairly dumped and effectively cutting off those imports. The temporary duties, which took effect Nov. 28, range about 107.1% to 212.1%, China’s Commerce Ministry said, according to an unofficial translation. Those rates will make Australian wine unsellable in China, Australia’s trade minister said, The Associated Press reported Nov. 27.