A United Arab Emirates manufacturer will pay about $660,000 as part of a settlement agreement for violating U.S. sanctions against North Korea, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a July 16 notice. Essentra FZE Company Limited, a cigarette filter and tear tape manufacturer, illegally exported cigarette filters to North Korea through a network of front companies, including companies in China, OFAC said. Essentra FZE was paid for the shipments through a bank account belonging to a foreign branch of a U.S. bank.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is considering imposing new license requirements on facial recognition software and surveillance-related items that may be used for crowd control reasons or to violate human rights. BIS said in a notice it is reviewing changes to the Commerce Control List and is seeking industry feedback about CCL items that are restricted for crime control and detection reasons. Comments are due Sept. 15.

Holland & Knight hired Francisco Sanchez, previously CEO of CNS Global Advisors, to co-chair the firm's International Trade Practice, it said in a news release. Sanchez was also undersecretary of commerce in charge of the International Trade Administration, 2010-2013.

The U.K. government followed the U.S. lead in banning Huawei equipment “without any solid evidence and under the excuse of non-existent risks,” a Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said July 15. The U.K.’s action “blatantly violated” free trade rules and “eroded mutual trust underpinning China-U.K. cooperation,” she said. “China will evaluate this development in a comprehensive and serious manner and take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.” On President Donald Trump’s disclosure July 14 that he personally “convinced many countries” not to use Huawei as a condition for doing business with the U.S., the spokesperson called that “further proof that decisions to ban Huawei are not about national security, but political manipulation.” Trump's disclosure “also shows the world that it is not China, but the U.S., that has been intimidating and threatening others and sowing discord all across the world,” she said.

The U.S. and Paraguay signed an updated Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement that expands “the ability to share information and strengthens trade facilitation efforts and enforcement capabilities,” CBP said in an emailed July 14 news release. “This revised agreement is a key component to further enhancing our partnership with Paraguay,” CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said. “The CMAA demonstrates our bilateral commitment to preventing and investigating crimes associated with goods crossing our borders, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade.” This CMAA replaces the version that was signed in 2002. Under the revised version, “information exchanged under the agreement may now be used in criminal proceedings by both parties,” CBP said. The U.S. has CMAAs with 82 countries, it said.

Sri Lanka clarified and revised its import restrictions for a range of commodities as the country tries to stop the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 13 report. The revisions, announced June 30, apply restrictions to imported goods loaded at a port on or before June 30, the report said, including certain industrial supplies, agricultural goods and electronic equipment. The import restrictions are intended to allow for the “uninterrupted raw material supply” for domestic manufacturing and export processing while also protecting “certain local industries and production,” USDA said.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. recently opened investigations into “dozens” of completed deals involving Chinese investments that were not officially notified to CFIUS, a July 15 report from The Capitol Forum said. The deals -- which mostly took place within the past five years -- involved Chinese investments in U.S. technology, heavy industry and entertainment companies, the report said. Since May, CFIUS has “substantially” increased scrutiny of non-notified deals, the report said. The Treasury Department did not comment. Industry has seen a notable increase in CFIUS scrutiny on transactions involving medical supplies and sensitive technologies, especially those associated with Chinese investors (see 2005290027). CFIUS is also closely monitoring Chinese investors trying to take advantage of companies struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2006230057).

The U.S. Embassy in Libya threatened sanctions against people, governments and entities causing violence in Libya and disrupting the country’s economy. In a July 12 statement, the embassy said “foreign-backed efforts against Libya’s economic and financial sectors” have affected the country’s National Oil Corporation and “heightened the risk of confrontation.” The embassy specifically mentioned attacks by Wagner mercenaries -- controlled by the U.S.-sanctioned, Russia-based PMC Wagner -- against NOC facilities. “Those who undermine Libya’s economy and cling to military escalation will face isolation and risk of sanctions,” the embassy said.

The U.S. authorized new sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 and other Russian pipelines (see 1912190075), clearing the way for designations of people and entities associated with Russian gas projects, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Those involved with the project may now be subject to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Pompeo said during a July 15 news conference.

The Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, which includes the U.S., sanctioned four entities and two people for providing financial support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the Treasury Department said July 15. The TFTC -- which also includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- targeted companies that have offered the Islamic State a “critical financial and logistical lifeline,” Treasury said.