China sanctioned 11 U.S. citizens Aug. 10, including six lawmakers, days after the U.S. designated various Hong Kong officials for implementing Beijing’s so-called national security law (see 2008070039). Along with its sanctions, China criticized the U.S., saying it should “correct” the designations, which included asset freezes of security officials and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.
The president and sales representative for a U.S. electronics company were arrested for illegal exports to Hong Kong and China, the Department of Justice said Aug. 6. President Chong Sik Yu and employee Yunseo Lee used America Techma Inc. (ATI) to allegedly ship electronics components to the region, violating the Export Control Reform Act. Both were also arrested on wire fraud and money laundering charges.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Aug. 7 sanctioned Bi Sidi Souleymane, leader of the Central African Republic militia group Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (3R). OFAC said Souleymane was involved in killings, torture and the displacement of thousands of people. The move came days after the United Nations Security Council sanctioned Souleymane (also spelled Souleman and Soulemane) (see 2008060019).
A U.S. technology company is being investigated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for possible Iran sanctions violations, the company said in an Aug. 4 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. California-based Harmonic Inc. said OFAC is looking into transactions made with Iran by France-based Thomson Video Networks, which Harmonic acquired in 2016. The company said it may be subject to civil, criminal and monetary penalties, the loss of export privileges or “in extreme cases, imprisonment of responsible employees.”
The U.S. on Aug. 7 sanctioned 11 top Hong Kong officials and police leaders for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy. The designations, which came after Congress passed several bills targeting Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong (see 2007020046 and 1911290012), were the first sanctions imposed under President Donald Trump’s July executive order on Hong Kong normalization (see 2007150019).
Brian Hook, one of the State Department’s lead officials on Iran policy and sanctions, resigned from his role as special representative for Iran and senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the agency said Aug. 6. Hook’s position will be filled by Elliott Abrams, who will also continue his role as the State Department’s special representative for Venezuela.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls’ Defense Export Control and Compliance System will be unavailable 6-8 a.m. EDT Aug. 10 for maintenance, DDTC said. In addition, DDTC’s advisory opinion, commodity jurisdiction and user management applications will be unavailable 11 p.m. EDT Aug. 7 to 1 a.m. EDT Aug. 8. DDTC is encouraging users to make sure their work in progress is saved before the scheduled maintenance.
The United Nations Security Council sanctioned the leader of a Central African Republic militia group, the UNSC said in an Aug. 5 notice. The designation targets Bi Sidi Souleman (also spelled Soulemane), who leads the group Retour, Reclamation, Rehabilitation, which is involved in warfare and illegal arms trafficking. The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation sanctioned Souleman Aug. 6.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people, one entity and one vessel for using Libya to smuggle fuel and illegal drugs, OFAC said Aug. 6. The designations target Libyan national Faysal al-Wadi, his vessel Maraya, his two associates Musbah Mohamad Wadi and Nourddin Milood Musbah, and the Malta-based company Alwefaq Ltd.
The U.S. needs to pour more resources into research and innovation of emerging technologies to boost commercialization and outpace Chinese technology development, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said. Blackburn advocated for a methodical decoupling from China, saying the U.S. needs to reshore manufacturing of critical technologies to help U.S. industries be more competitive in foreign markets.