Sixteen African countries urged the lifting of all international sanctions against Zimbabwe, saying it is suffering from a range of “socio-economic challenges” caused by the restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanctions should be “unconditionally lifted for Zimbabwe to improve the livelihoods of her citizens, and develop unhindered,” Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, president of Mozambique and the chair of the intergovernmental Southern African Development Community, said in an Oct. 24 news release. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control did not comment.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Oct. 26 updated 10 frequently asked questions and published one new FAQ to provide guidance on its most recent update to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (see 2010230024). OFAC’s new FAQ outlines which general licenses the change affects and clarifies how the restrictions apply to entities on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. The agency also clarified that effective Nov. 26, people subject to U.S. jurisdiction will no longer be able to process remittances to or from Cuba “through [Financiera Cimex, called] FINCIMEX or any other entity or subentity on the [Cuba Restricted List].”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned eight people, 11 entities and two vessels for operating in Iran’s oil sector and supporting the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, OFAC said Oct. 26. OFAC also issued an updated Iran-related general license and amended six frequently asked questions.

China has met 71% of its 2020 purchase goals for U.S. agricultural commodities under the phase one trade deal, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an “interim report.” The Oct. 23 report, released 11 days before the election, said the U.S. is on track for its “best year ever in sales to China.”

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Oct. 26 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The European Council called on the European Commission to “swiftly” draft a “major crisis contingency plan” for Europe’s freight transportation sector to better respond to crises. The plan should ensure the European Union can maintain cross-border freight transport operations and ensure the free movement as well as the health and safety of transport workers, the council said Oct. 23. It should also include a set of “best-practice” guidelines and a “coherent regulatory framework” to create exemptions for freight transporters when “other major crisis situations arise.”

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Oct. 23 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Nov. 8, 4 a.m. to noon local time, an Oct. 23 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.

China will impose antidumping duties on imports of certain synthetic rubber from the U.S., South Korea and the European Union, China’s Commerce Ministry said in an Oct. 23 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The duties, ranging from 12.5% to 222%, will apply to imports of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber and take effect Oct. 28.

President Donald Trump notified Congress that he intends to formally remove Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, the White House said Oct. 23. Sanctions and other trade restrictions on Sudan now include bans on arms exports, export controls over dual-use items, various financial and economic assistance prohibitions, and prohibitions on defense contracts, according to the State Department. The White House move came after Sudan promised to make reparations to families of victims of terror.