The U.K. published more guidance about its shift next year to a single list for all sanctions designations (see 2510140023). The country's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a new format guide for the new list, guidance with information on how businesses should prepare for the change, and a recording of a webinar about the change. OFSI said businesses should make sure they "understand the impact of the closure" of the agency's OFSI consolidated list, and said companies should switch to the new U.K. Sanctions List "as your primary source of designations data now, and in any case no later than 28 January 2026."
China will take “corresponding measures” if the U.S. “continues down the wrong path” by imposing Section 301 tariffs on semiconductors, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular press conference Dec. 24 in Beijing.
The State Department has approved possible military sales to Denmark and Spain, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and John Kennedy, R-La., have urged the Trump administration to pressure the EU to repeal a new methane mandate that they say could hurt U.S. oil and gas exports.
A U.S. software company is asking the Commerce Department to rethink the way export controls are imposed and enforced over AI technologies, arguing for an automated approach that it said can prevent AI systems from being used in ways that violate U.S. licensing rules.
The Federal Maritime Commission is removing a portion of its final rule on demurrage and detention billing requirements (see 2402230049) after a federal court earlier this year said the language arbitrarily and capriciously exempted motor carriers from being assessed those demurrage and detention fees (see 2509230039 and 2509240068).
China filed a request for consultations at the World Trade Organization about Indian tariffs on information and communication technology products and subsidy measures for high efficiency solar photovoltaic modules, the WTO said Dec. 23.
The Council of the European Union sanctioned two members of Russia's judiciary for committing serious human rights violations and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia, the council announced Dec. 22. It said Dmitry Gordeev, a judge of the Moscow City Court, has "repeatedly issued politically motivated rulings against opposition figures and human rights defenders," and Lyudmila Balandina, a prosecutor, has pursued cases against critics of the Russian regime.
The State Department last week approved a possible $136.1 million military sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The sale includes "Stinger Service Life Extension Program Components, Parts, and Services" and related equipment, and the principal contractors will be PTI Technologies and L3 Harris.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the DDTC Response Team and the agency's help desk will be closed beginning Dec. 24 because of the federal holiday, the agency announced this week. The Response Team will resume normal operations Dec. 29 at 8 a.m. ET, and the help desk will be back Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. ET. During this time, users can submit a support ticket using DDTC's virtual AI agent (see 2512160059) or through the agency's contact page. "Please be aware that, due to the holiday closure and a potential increase in inquiries, response times may be longer than usual and could extend into the following week. Processing of classified provisos for delivery may also be delayed."