The EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, a 2023 law that allows the bloc to respond to market-distorting foreign subsidies by foreign countries, was deemed an unfair trade and investment barrier by China’s Ministry of Commerce last week.

Japan is placing new trade restrictions on Russia, including export controls over certain audio equipment, engines and parts for “special vehicles,” such as cranes and small motorcycles, the country’s trade minister said during a Jan. 10 press conference, according to an unofficial translation. Japan will also take "measures to prevent indirect exports” to Russia being sent by companies in third countries. “We will continue to cooperate with the international community, including the G7, and take all possible measures to implement sanctions against Russia,” the minister said. “The details will be explained by the secretariat at a later date.”

DOJ last week released the fourth and final part in a series of reports on criminal gun trafficking, part of an effort by the Biden administration to collect and analyze more data to prevent the illegal movement of firearms. The report, published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, said there was a 298% increase in the total number of regulated firearms and weapons exported annually from 2000 to 2022, followed by a 21% decrease in those same shipments between 2022 and 2023. It added that 4,317 “recovered crime guns” were traced to legal exports in 2023, more than in any year since 2020. It also said two of the most frequently exported firearms have been pistols and machine guns.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., reintroduced a bill Jan. 9 that would impose sanctions on Chinese police departments that operate in the U.S. or try to do so. His Expel Illegal Chinese Police Act also would sanction those who monitor or intimidate people in the U.S. on behalf of the Chinese Community Party’s United Front Work Department. The bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Cotton previously introduced the legislation in early December, near the end of the 118th Congress (see 2412040035).

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., introduced a bill Jan. 9 to end the arms embargo on Cyprus. The Cyprus Defense Cooperation Act was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The leaders of the House Select Committee on China urged the Commerce Department Jan. 9 to update its regulations to require U.S. biopharmaceutical entities to obtain an export license before working with a Chinese military hospital for clinical trials.

The U.K. on. Jan. 9 amended the sanctions listing for transportation company Zapchasttrade LLP under its Russia sanctions regime, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced. OFSI updated the company's business regulation number.

The U.K. sanctioned suspected domestic terrorist group Blood and Honour on Jan. 8, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced. OFSI said the group is "facilitating, promoting and encouraging terrorism via its dissemination of music whose content promotes and encourages terrorism" and also generates funds for terrorism through "events it arranges for the purposes of furthering its own terrorist activities." OFSI also said the group conducts "recruitment activities" for terrorism purposes.

The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on Jan. 10 sanctioned major Russian oil producers and exporters Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas for operating in Russia’s energy sector. The designations were announced in conjunction with new sanctions issued by the Biden administration last week, U.S. officials said, which targeted a host of companies and vessels helping to move Russian energy products (see 2501100027).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned several senior Venezuelan officials helping Nicolas Maduro keep control of the country, including Hector Andres Obregon Perez, president of major state-owned oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. Others designated include Venezuela’s transportation minister, its lead “legal security” official and several military and police leaders. The designations come after the Maduro regime appeared to alter the results of the country’s presidential elections last year, drawing criticism from the U.S. and others (see 2407290044).