Jake Sullivan, in one of his final public appearances as national security adviser under President Joe Biden, urged the incoming Trump administration to continue imposing technology restrictions against China and to do so in coordination with U.S. allies.
California-based machine tool manufacturer Haas Automation will pay more than $2.5 million to the U.S. government after being accused of illegally shipping parts and other items to sanctioned and Entity Listed companies in China and Russia.
The European Commission imposed definitive antidumping duties on sweetener erythritol from China on Jan. 16, the Directorate-General for Trade announced. The duties range from 34.4% to 233.3% and will be collected retroactively to June 7, 2024, at the level of provisional duties the commission imposed in July last year. The commission said the duties are needed due to the injury caused by Chinese erythritol imports to the EU industry, which was "forced to halt its erythritol production towards the end of 2022."
China “firmly opposes” the Netherlands’ plan to expand export controls over certain semiconductor equipment (see 2501150057), which “threatens the stability of the global semiconductor industry chain and supply chain,” a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said this week at a regular press conference, according to an unofficial translation. The spokesperson said Beijing has “expressed its deep concern” to the Netherlands and said it hopes the country will “respect market principles,” the “spirit of contract” and the “legitimate rights and interests of companies from all countries, including Chinese and Dutch companies.”
China pushed back this week against the Biden administration’s latest round of semiconductor-related export controls (see 2501130026 and 2501150040) and Entity Listings (see 2501150016), saying they risk further straining trade ties between the two countries. Beijing also added four more U.S. defense companies to its so-called unreliable entity list and said it’s reviewing whether U.S. subsidies for the American chip industry are unfairly propping up U.S. exports of legacy semiconductors.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network adjusted its civil monetary penalties for inflation, the agency said in a notice this week. The new amounts include higher maximum penalties for various record-keeping and banking violations associated with certain financial transactions along with the agency's new beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. Those BOI requirements are currently under a nationwide injunction by a federal court (see 2501030018). The new penalty amounts take effect Jan. 17.
House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., announced Jan. 15 that he has appointed seven subcommittee ranking members for the 119th Congress:
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., announced Jan. 15 that Margaret Harker will be the panel’s new general counsel. Harker most recently was deputy chief counsel for investigations at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Moolenaar also announced that Alyssa Pettus will become his panel’s communications director, and David Russell will become senior adviser for policy and communications. Dave Hanke will remain staff director.
Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., reintroduced a bill Jan. 14 to require the Energy Department to examine the impact on climate change, consumer energy costs and local communities when considering permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.
The U.K. amended the sanctions listing of Russian energy company Gazprom Neft under the Russia sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated the business registration number of the company.