The U.S. announced a ban on transactions with the parent companies of TikTok and WeChat, two Chinese-owned apps that President Donald Trump said threaten U.S. national security. In executive orders issued Aug. 6, the U.S. said it will prohibit any transaction with TikTok owner ByteDance and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings, beginning in 45 days.
As Canadians consider which of 68 aluminum-containing products to put on a tariff retaliation list, U.S. industrial producers and buyers of aluminum reacted with dismay to the news that a large segment of Canadian aluminum imports will face a 10% tariff starting Aug. 16.
The U.S. on Aug. 7 sanctioned 11 top Hong Kong officials and police leaders for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy. The designations, which came after Congress passed several bills targeting Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong (see 2007020046 and 1911290012), were the first sanctions imposed under President Donald Trump’s July executive order on Hong Kong normalization (see 2007150019).
Rock Trade Law absorbed consulting firm Kennard & Associates “to offer expanded duty drawback capabilities,” the law firm said in a news release. The firm will also “expand its portfolio of services to include vessel repair entry filings,” it said.
Brian Hook, one of the State Department’s lead officials on Iran policy and sanctions, resigned from his role as special representative for Iran and senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the agency said Aug. 6. Hook’s position will be filled by Elliott Abrams, who will also continue his role as the State Department’s special representative for Venezuela.
The Information Technology Industry Council hired former State Department deputy assistant secretary-cyber and international communications and information policy, Rob Strayer, as executive vice president-policy, the ITI said in a news release. He will lead ITI’s global policy division, and oversee ITI’s global policy teams in Europe, India and Latin America.
Amina Mohamed, Kenya's Sports, Culture and Heritage minister and its nominee to lead the World Trade Organization, said strengthening rules on industrial subsidies and reforming the Appellate Body are critical for the WTO's continued success.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade on Aug. 6 updated its guidance for exporting to Azerbaijan. The guidance contains information on trade risks for companies doing business in the country, including Azerbaijan’s “lack of transparency,” “inconsistent” application of regulations and procedures for licensing and certification, and ranking in an index of perceived corruption risks.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls’ Defense Export Control and Compliance System will be unavailable 6-8 a.m. EDT Aug. 10 for maintenance, DDTC said. In addition, DDTC’s advisory opinion, commodity jurisdiction and user management applications will be unavailable 11 p.m. EDT Aug. 7 to 1 a.m. EDT Aug. 8. DDTC is encouraging users to make sure their work in progress is saved before the scheduled maintenance.
A Florida man was sentenced to 33 months in prison after illegally exporting more than 1,600 firearms parts, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said Aug. 5. From 2011 to 2018, Vladimir Volgaev shipped barrels, slides, receivers and frames from the U.S. to Ukraine, violating the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, ICE said. The gun parts were later used to build firearms, including handguns and rifles, the agency said. Along with the prison sentence, Volgaev was ordered to forfeit $6,835 from the sales of the parts.