The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Sept. 30 completed an interagency review for a proposed Bureau of Industry and Security rule (see 2007210033) to control “software” for the operation of certain “automated nucleic acid assemblers and synthesizers.” BIS will request comments on the proposed export controls, which fall under the agency’s effort to control emerging technologies. OIRA received the rule July 20. On its spring agenda, BIS said the software can be used to produce pathogens and toxins that potentially can be used in biological weapons (see 2007140027).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued guidance Oct. 1 on the sanctions risks of facilitating ransomware payments. The guidance urged companies to refrain from facilitating payments “on behalf of victims” of cyberattacks because they encourage future payment demands and may risk sanctions violations.
The administration should increase export controls and sanctions pressure on China, place more scrutiny on Chinese foreign direct investment and push for the modernization of multilateral export regimes, the House’s Republican-led China Task Force said in a Sept. 30 report. It urged the administration to act quickly, saying China and other U.S. “adversaries” are flouting international export control laws and undermining U.S. technology industries.
The long-awaited World Trade Organization decision on how much in tariffs the European Union can use to retaliate for Boeing subsidies has been sent to the parties, Reuters is reporting, and that amount is $4 billion worth of goods. Reuters said the EU is unlikely to impose tariffs before the U.S. election in November.
The United Kingdom will apply a tariff rate quota on imports of certain steel imports from certain countries after Brexit, the U.K. said in a Sept. 30 notice. The TRQ will apply to a range of steel products, including metallic coated sheets, stainless wire rods, railway material, gas pipes and non-alloy wire. The U.K. published a document containing the product categories, their commodity codes and the TRQs for each country.
Mexico's cabinet members in charge of implementing labor law changes and managing the USMCA more broadly said they are helping the private sector evaluate whether businesses could be a target of the rapid response mechanism, and they are working on the four-year process of democratizing labor unions in the country. Labor Secretary Luisa Maria Alcalde de Lujan said new laws include eliminating the former arbitration system, which was part of the executive branch, and creating a system of labor judges.
A task force led by Republican House members recommended more trade agreements, engagement at the World Trade Organization, and “a strategic plan for Phase Two negotiations” with China to address distorting subsidies, dominance of state-owned enterprises that dictate the terms of trade and data, and forced tech transfer and joint venture requirements. It also said the U.S. should be aggressive in enforcing the China phase one agreement, particularly on forced tech transfer, intellectual property and barriers to agriculture imports.
The United Kingdom and Canada on Sept. 29 imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials (see 2009250010) for human rights violations related to the country’s rigged elections. The U.K. sanctioned eight officials and Canada listed 11. Both lists include Aleksandr Lukashenko, who claimed victory in the recent presidential election.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control amended its Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations and its Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the agency said in a notice released Sept. 30. The final rule revises a note that describes how people designated under the WMD regulations for North Korea are identified in OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List and amends the ITSR to “refine” a general license. The rule is effective on Oct. 1.
The U.S. sanctioned 20 people and entities for supporting Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime and issued a new general license and frequently asked question. The sanctions, announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the State Department Sept. 30, target Assad regime officials, military officials, financiers and their businesses.