The World Trade Organization officially set the dates for the 14th Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Cameroon: March 26-29, 2026. It will be the second ministerial conference hosted by an African nation. Kenya was the site of the 2015 conference.

An indictment was unsealed last week charging Russian national Alexey Komov with conspiracy and U.S. sanctions violations stemming from his aid to sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. Komov allegedly conspired with Malofeyev to recruit an American citizen, Jack Hanick, to start and operate a television network in Russia.

Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., introduced a bill Dec. 11 that would codify Russia sanctions imposed under nine executive orders: 13849, 13883, 14024, 14039, 14065, 14066, 14068, 14701 and 14114. It is identical to a bill that Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., introduced in September.

Donald Trump's return to the White House brings a "lack of predictability," Baker McKenzie attorneys said during a webinar last week on how threatened tariffs could affect countries around the globe.

The EPA is proposing to issue significant new use rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 34 chemical substances, it said in a notice. Comments are due by Jan. 16. The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture, import or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity designated as a new use in the SNUR, EPA said.

The EU on Dec. 16 announced its 15th sanctions package against Russia, designating nearly 100 new people and entities and taking other measures designed to prevent circumvention of EU sanctions.

The Council of the European Union renewed its sanctions regime on Guatemala until Jan. 13, 2026. The regime currently lists five people.

The Council of the EU added four people to its Sudan sanctions regime and three people to its Haiti sanctions list on Dec. 16.

The Biden administration has no plans to alter its policy toward Cuba during its final weeks in office, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a congressional panel last week.

The U.S. this week sanctioned people and entities for their ties to North Korea, including financial firms, employees of U.S.-designated companies, military officials and others.