Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., introduced a bill Oct. 27 that calls for imposing sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against Chinese officials who violate religious freedom.
The Council of the European Union on Oct. 27 renewed its sanctions regime against ISIL/Da'esh and al-Qaeda for another year to Oct. 31, 2026. The sanctions currently apply to 15 people and seven entities.
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The U.S. and Japan this week agreed to improve “technology protection” measures and enforcement coordination as part of a new Technology Prosperity Deal. Japan also agreed to pursue new sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet, strengthen foreign investment reviews and commit to work with the U.S. to strengthen critical minerals supply chains.
It seems unlikely that the Bureau of Industry and Security could withdraw its new 50% rule either due to industry pushback or as part of trade negotiations with China, said Matt Axelrod, the former BIS export enforcement chief.
Blake Hulnick left his role as an attorney adviser with the Office of Foreign Assets Control to rejoin Covington, where he will advise on economic sanctions, export controls and other national security-related enforcement topics. Hulnick had worked at OFAC since July 2023.
Aaron Amundson, a former longtime official with the Bureau of Industry and Security, has joined Latham & Watkins' economic sanctions and export controls practice, the law firm announced Oct. 27. Amundson spent nearly two decades with BIS, including most recently as acting director of the Office of National Security Controls and director of the Information Technology Controls Division.
China's Ministry of Commerce this week urged the U.K. to reverse its recent sanctions against Chinese companies for supplying electronic parts to Russia's defense sector (see 2510160021), saying it "firmly opposes" the restrictions.
Public comments on the Commerce Department's upcoming American AI Exports Program are due by Nov. 28, according to a Federal Register notice released this week. Commerce announced on Oct. 21 that it would be asking industry for feedback on how it should shape the program and ensure that it complies with export controls and other national security regulations (see 2510220008).
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, reintroduced a bill Oct. 23 that aims to expedite permits to export liquefied natural gas to non-sanctioned, non-free trade agreement countries. Applications to export LNG to these countries would go through the same accelerated approval process as free trade countries.