Multilateral export regimes need to be modernized to address new export and proliferation controls surrounding emerging technologies, technology proliferation experts said. While groups such as the Wassenaar Arrangement work well to control physical categories of items, they may overlook advancements in exports and other technology areas that could lead to proliferation of dual-use goods, the experts said.

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

Singapore Customs issued a Sept. 28 advisory on combating money laundering from illegal wildlife trade. The guidance outlines “risk indicators” for traders who may be dealing with illegal wildlife traffickers and details how to report suspicious transactions.

India announced new import conditions on certain steel products, according to a Sept. 28 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The change requires steel traders to register under the country’s Steel Import Monitoring System before importing steel products that are classified under all codes of chapters 72, 73 and 86 of the Harmonized System of 2017, the notice said.

China announced antidumping duties on imports of Japanese and U.S. optical fiber preforms, China’s customs authority said in a Sept. 24 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The notice includes declaration requirements for the imports. The duties took effect Sept. 26.

The State Department updated its Cuba Restricted List to add one subentity and its alias, the agency said in a notice released Sept. 28. The list now includes American International Services (alias AIS Remesas), a subentity of Corporacion CIMEX S.A. The change takes effect Sept. 29. Entities on the Cuba Restricted List are generally subject to export restrictions by the Commerce Department.

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is seeking comments on an information collection relating to anti-money laundering due diligence programs for banks, FinCEN said in a notice released Sept. 28. The collection relates to regulations for banks to “detect and report” money laundering involving correspondent accounts created by foreign financial institutions. The agency is proposing to renew the information collection without change. Comments are due Nov. 30. According to the notice, “Although no changes are proposed to the information collection itself, this request for comments covers a future expansion of the scope of the annual hourly burden and cost estimate associated with these regulations.”

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily blocked the Commerce Department from implementing restrictions on TikTok (see 2009180026), according to court records filed Sept. 27. The Commerce Department said it will fight the injunction and said President Donald Trump’s August executive order (see 2008070024) was “fully consistent with the law” and addressed “legitimate” national security concerns. “The Government will comply with the injunction and has taken immediate steps to do so, but intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges,” Commerce said. The court’s injunction came about one week after another court temporarily blocked Commerce from imposing similar restrictions on WeChat (see 2009210008).

The European Union announced new initiatives to support its Customs Union and tackle a rise in smuggling, fraud and other trade challenges faced by member states. The initiatives, part of the EU’s Sept. 28 Customs Union Action Plan, include measures to combat customs duty fraud, a rollout of modern customs equipment under the next EU budget and an EU-wide single customs portal.

The Commerce Department informed some U.S. chip companies they need export licenses before shipping certain items to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China’s largest semiconductor maker, according to two people familiar with the situation. Commerce sent the information in a letter to companies last week, the people said, which effectively placed export controls on shipments to the Chinese company.