The Saudi Ports Authority recently announced a new shipping route to East Asia that will connect a number of major East Asian ports, according to a June 1 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The route, announced in May, will stop in Shanghai, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, South Korea and Malaysia, among others. The route will be operated out of Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Commercial Port, the report said. The shipping line will open “direct lines for shipping and exporting national products” while “accelerating direct import and export operations from East Asian countries and increasing trade exchange,” Saudi’s Ports Authority said in a statement, according to HKTDC.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of June 1 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

Singapore will update its “Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations,” including changes to record-keeping requirements, brokering activities, certain technology transfers and more, Singapore Customs said in a June 1 notice. The changes take effect Aug. 3.

India announced restrictions on certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers “in containers with dispenser pumps,” according to a June 1 notice from the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The notice contains Harmonized System codes for the restricted products. India previously restricted exports of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, (see 2005060023), but this notice, “with immediate effect,” only prohibits exports with the dispenser pump packaging.

Cambodia is close to adopting an anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism legislation to reduce domestic crime and terrorist financing, according to a June 1 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The legislation, which has received Cabinet approval and next goes to the lower house of the legislature, before undergoing final review by the country’s Senate and its king, aims to bring Cambodia’s laws in line with international best practices, the report said. Cambodia’s money-laundering and terrorist financing controls have been called inadequate by the regional body Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering and the Financial Action Task Force, of which Cambodia is a member, HKTDC said.

The U.S. semiconductor industry is preparing to lobby for billions of dollars in federal funding amid growing U.S. technology competition with China, according to a May 31 report in The Wall Street Journal. The lobbying efforts, outlined in a $37 billion draft proposal by the Semiconductor Industry Association, includes funding for a new U.S. chip factory and increased research subsidies, the report said. The SIA declined to comment.

The Commerce Department again renewed an export denial order for Mahan Airways because the airline continues to violate the order and the Export Administration Regulations, according to a May 29 notice. The Iranian airline has been on the banned list since 2008, and the notice renewed the ban for 180 days, until about Dec. 2, 2020, Commerce said. Since last renewing Mahan’s denial order in December (see 1912050032), the U.S. sanctioned a China-based logistics company for operating as a sales agent for Mahan Airways (see 2005190020 and 2005200027).

The United Nations Security Council renewed its arms embargo and sanctions against South Sudan, the UN said May 29. The measures are extended until July 1, 2021. The European Union had urged the UN to renew the embargo (see 2005040018). The U.S. renewed sanctions against the country in April (see 2004020018).

China reportedly ordered its state-controlled companies to stop buying certain U.S. agricultural products after the U.S. certified last week that Hong Kong no longer qualifies for special trade treatment. The decision also came after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will sanction Chinese officials, increase export controls on dual-use technologies, and end the special customs territory in response to Beijing’s so-called national security law (see 2005290047), which the State Department said threatens Hong Kong’s autonomy (see 2005270026).

Germany asked the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia for a 2015 cyberattack on Germany’s parliament, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said May 28, according to an unofficial translation. Germany said it will ask the EU to invoke its “cyber sanctions regime … with respect to those responsible for the attack,” including Russian national Dmitri Badin. Germany issued an arrest warrant for Badin after alleging he worked with others to “carry out intelligence activities” against the country. Germany added that it is considering “further measures.”