A Bureau of Industry and Security interim final rule that introduced a 50% ownership threshold rule for the Entity List and Military End-User List was released and effective Sept. 29 (see 2509290017).

The 60-day temporary general license in the Bureau of Industry and Security's new 50% rule (see 2509290017) is “very limited” and could push exporters to apply for licenses “on an expedited basis to avoid noncompliance,” Morgan Lewis said in a client alert.

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The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines Sept. 30 to approve the nomination of Christopher Pilkerton to be the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for investment security. The committee also voted 15-9 to support Jonathan Burke to be Treasury’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing. Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., joined the panel’s Republicans in backing Burke. Both nominations now head to the full Senate for its consideration.

The Bureau of Industry and Security's new 50% rule only applies to ownership, not the “control” that a parent company may have over an affiliate, the agency said in new FAQs. Other FAQs stress that the government’s Consolidated Screening List is no longer exhaustive, clarify how license exceptions may apply to unlisted affiliates, explain how BIS will determine whether a U.S. exporter has “knowledge” that a listed entity owns part of a non-listed foreign affiliate, and more.

Serena Tang, who enforces the Shipping Act as a trial attorney at the Federal Maritime Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance, said in a case filing Sept. 29 that she is resigning from the FMC effective Oct. 3. Tang has been with the commission for four years, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Aidan Curran, deputy communications director for the Democratic staff of the House Select Committee on China, said in an email Sept. 26 that he left the panel and is now communications director for Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a member of the committee.

Sara Schuman, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's former senior trade representative for China, has joined Beacon Global Strategies to lead its new international trade practice. Schuman, who left government in 2023, was responsible for trade negotiations with China and coordinating "economic security initiatives" with allies, the firm said.

Steven Emme, former chief strategy officer for the Bureau of Industry and Security, has joined Akin as an international trade partner, the firm announced. Emme worked multiple stints at the Commerce Department since 2007, including as BIS chief strategy officer beginning in 2023, before leaving earlier this year. His practice will focus on international trade and national security, including issues related to U.S. export control and sanctions regulations.

The EU will appeal a World Trade Organization panel report in Indonesia's case against the EU's countervailing duties on Indonesian biodiesel to the defunct Appellate Body, the EU reported at the Sept. 26 meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body. The appeal effectively ends the dispute, since there's no Appellate Body division that will be able to hear the case due to vacancies on the Appellate Body.