The EU has agreed to a 17th package of sanctions against Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said May 14 on social media. The package includes more restrictions on Russian access to "battlefield technology" and the designations of 189 so-called shadow fleet vessels helping Russia move energy exports, she said. "This war has to end," von der Leyen said. "We will keep the pressure high on the Kremlin." The EU didn't immediately release more information about the measures, which are expected to be formally released in the coming days.
The Trump administration said this week that it secured billions of dollars' worth of purchase commitments from Qatar, including a deal for sales of Boeing aircraft and defense systems from other U.S. aerospace and weapons companies.
Washington state punches above its weight in goods exports, and exported $57.8 billion worth of goods in 2024, including $40.7 billion in manufactured products. Some 45% of those manufactured exports are Boeing planes and aerospace parts.
Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Del., introduced a bill May 13 aimed at speeding up arms shipments to Taiwan to help the country defend itself against China.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., announced May 14 that he has reintroduced a bill that would bar federally funded private companies, as well as U.S. government agencies and federally funded universities, from conducting research with Chinese military-linked entities on such sensitive technologies as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, quantum computing and aerospace. The Preventing PLA Acquisition of U.S. Technology Act would also require the Defense Department to maintain a public list of restricted Chinese entities and technologies. Then-Rep. Banks and then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., previously reintroduced the bill in the last Congress.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted 17-11 May 14 to approve former Energy Department official Paul Dabbar to be deputy commerce secretary, sending his nomination to the full Senate for its consideration. Asked in written questions whether he would ensure the Bureau of Industry and Security has the resources necessary to do its job, Dabbar said he would ensure the Commerce Department, including BIS, “completes its mission.” He also said he would work to "tighten export controls on critical and emerging technologies."
President Donald Trump this week renewed a national emergency authorizing certain sanctions related to Iraq. The White House said "obstacles to the orderly reconstruction" of peace, security and economic institutions in Iraq continue to threaten U.S. national security. The sanctions were renewed for another year from May 22.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned six people and 12 entities in Iran and China for helping Iran source the manufacturing of critical materials needed for the country's ballistic missile program, including carbon fiber.
The U.K. should be wary of language in the recently announced trade framework with the U.S. (see 2505090006) that calls on Britain to comply with certain supply chain security requirements, which they said the U.S. could use to pressure the U.K. in its trading relationship with China, the U.K. Parliament heard from witnesses this week.
The U.S. government could improve its ability to wield its economic statecraft tools, including sanctions, export controls and investment screening, by making several organizational changes, such as creating an interagency coordinating body co-led by a new high-ranking official at the State Department, a researcher told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific May 14.