A nationwide injunction stopping the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements from taking effect was reinstated last week, making it so certain companies won't have to comply with the law's reporting rules next month.
The U.S. on Dec. 27 sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian oligarch and former Georgian prime minister. The State Department said Ivanishvili was sanctioned for "undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of" Russia, and he has also contributed to human rights abuses in the country.
Congress and the executive branch should use a mix of export controls and foreign investment restrictions to prevent China from using biotechnology to commit human rights abuses, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in its 2024 annual report.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., reintroduced a bill Dec. 19 to prohibit gasoline exports during periods of high gas prices, with the goal of boosting domestic supply to lower prices. The bill was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Khanna previously introduced the bill in October 2022, defining high prices as a national average of $3.12 per gallon or more for a week.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced a bill Dec. 20 to sanction Turkey if it doesn't renew a recently expired ceasefire between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Canada this week criticized Beijing’s recent decision to sanction two Canadian civil society organizations and human rights activists (see 2412230058), saying the measures were designed to “punish them for speaking out for human rights.” China sanctioned the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project in Canada and the Canada-Tibet Committee, among others, days after Canada imposed its own sanctions against Chinese officials for human rights violations (see 2412110016).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit stayed a nationwide injunction of the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements on Dec. 23, temporarily lifting a recent federal court order that was set to block the rules from taking effect for most companies Jan. 1 (see 2412090065).
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and four other lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office in a Dec. 18 letter to study whether U.S. agencies need additional sanctions authorities to go after illegal mining or other foreign environmental crimes committed by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The letter says that illegal mining of metals and minerals is booming in the Western Hemisphere and is harming the environment while enriching TCOs. Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Maria Salazar, R-Fla., also signed the letter.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. has told U.S. Steel that it was unable to reach a consensus on the proposed acquisition of the American steelmaker by Japan’s Nippon Steel, prompting it to refer the matter to President Joe Biden to make a decision, U.S. Steel said in a statement late Dec. 23.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will gain six new Republican members in January, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced Dec. 20.