The Federal Maritime Commission released a two-page policy statement Jan. 2 clarifying it's authorized to hear class-action complaints involving statutes it administers.
China announced new export controls on American defense contractors Jan. 2, adding some firms to a list that bans them from receiving dual-use items and adding another set of companies to its so-called Unreliable Entity List.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service released a summary and translation of China’s recent notice announcing a safeguard investigation on imported beef, including from the U.S. (see 2412300027). The agency said China imported $14.2 billion worth of those beef products in 2023 from the U.S. and other countries, with the U.S. accounting for $1.5 billion worth of those shipments. “While the investigation does not specifically target exported beef from the United States, an affirmative determination would likely result in additional duties on global beef imports, including those from the United States,” USDA said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on Dec. 31 suspended the export privileges of four people after they were convicted of export-related offenses, including illegal shipments involving guns, ammunition and Iranian oil. The suspensions took effect from the date of their convictions.
Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., incoming chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, announced Jan. 2 that Ben Johnson will be the panel’s new staff director. Johnson most recently was staff director for the House Small Business Committee. Also at House Financial Services, Kim Betz will be deputy staff director and general counsel, and Allison Behuniak will be policy director. The committee has played a major role in attempts to pass legislation to restrict U.S. outbound investment in China.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is joining the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this month for the new 119th Congress, incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Jan. 2.
The Census Bureau updated the Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule tables in the Automated Export System to accept changes to the new Jan. 1 codes, the agency said in a Jan. 2 email. Census said AES will accept shipments with “outdated codes” for 30 days beyond their Dec. 31 expiration date, but reporting an outdated code after the grace period will result in a “fatal error.” Census also said it updated the Automated Commercial Environment AESDirect program with the codes, and the program will also accept outdated codes during the grace period.
The U.K. on Jan. 2 removed Abdelhafiz Zlitni from its Libya sanctions list. The U.K. had listed Zlitni as the minister for planning and finance of the Libyan government under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control was one of multiple Treasury Department offices recently breached by Chinese government hackers, the Washington Post reported this week. Treasury reportedly disclosed the hack in a Dec. 30 letter to lawmakers, saying that it was still assessing the impact. The agency added that the documents accessed were unclassified and there was no evidence the hacker still has access to Treasury systems.
China’s Ministry of Commerce this week published proposed updates to its list of technologies subject to export controls, including new and revised restrictions on technology used to make battery parts and process certain critical minerals, according to an unofficial translation. If China moves forward with the controls, it would further restrict critical minerals such as lithium and gallium along with the technology used to process them, Reuters reported Jan. 2. The controls are reportedly open for public comment until Feb. 1.