The Federal Emergency Management Agency will continue export restrictions on an amended list of personal protective equipment through Dec. 31, the agency said in a notice released Aug. 6. The restrictions, which were scheduled to expire this month, now cover four categories of items, including certain respirators, masks, gloves and surgical gowns -- a decrease from the six categories FEMA has restricted since April. The changes take effect Aug. 10.
India lifted its export controls on ventilators about four months after imposing the restrictions (see 2003240045), India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Aug. 4. Export restrictions no longer apply to “all ventilators,” India said, including “any artificial respiratory apparatus … or other breathing appliance.” The measure was first introduced to maintain India’s domestic supply of ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Congressional Research Service issued a report Aug. 4 on emerging military technologies, including supply chain risks faced by the U.S. and considerations for Congress. The CRS suggests the U.S. supply chain for advanced military technologies may be compromised by Chinese industrial espionage or attempts to steal intellectual property relating to hypersonics. The report also cites the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence finding that the U.S. “lacks domestic facilities” to produce components needed to make artificial intelligence technologies, forcing the nation to rely on “foreign fabrication and complex global supply chains for production.” The report cites experts who say technology developments are likely to “outpace” U.S regulation, adding that the U.S. should consider “broad” engagement with allies to “advance collaboration on emerging technologies, norms, and standards setting.”
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended an entry under its terrorism sanctions, according to an Aug. 5 notice. The change adds and deletes identifying information for Qasem Soleimani, the deceased former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Zimbabwean businessman Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei and his company, Sakunda Holdings, for supporting Zimbabwe’s government, OFAC said Aug. 5. OFAC said Tagwirei used his relationship with government officials to secure state contracts and “receive favored access to hard currency,” earning millions of U.S. dollars.
U.S. export controls are set to become more of a factor at universities worldwide as U.S.-China technology competition accelerates, forcing academic institutions to adjust to an expanding basket of regulations and compliance standards, a Hinrich Foundation report said. Colleges, which already struggle with insufficient government export control guidance (see 2005120053), need to be prepared for increased controls on software and networks, placement of foreign universities on blacklists and bans on certain foreign funding, the report said.
China has met only 5% of its purchase commitments of U.S. energy products through the first half of 2020, falling significantly short of the $25.3 billion in commitments outlined in the phase one trade deal, Reuters reported Aug. 4. China has imported about $1.29 billion worth of U.S. energy products, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas and metallurgical coal, the report said. Trade experts have said China is unlikely to meet the deal’s commitments, partly due to worsening U.S.-China relations and the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2006100053). China said in July it still plans to fulfill the commitments despite a series of recent U.S. sanctions and export restrictions (see 2007160024).
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Aug. 3 released a congressional notification transmittal sheet, detailing proposed arms sales, license amendments and license approvals from April through June. The sheet contains more than 40 proposed exports and license amendments.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published an Aug. 3 blog post about its new Transport Sanctions team, which will focus on maritime and air sanctions enforcement. The team will concentrate on enforcing restrictions on the “movement, registration, ownership and use” of ships and aircraft, including transporters who falsify documents or obscure ship ownership. The U.K. recently issued a sanctions guidance for the maritime industry, detailing sanctions evasion practices by North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria (see 2007290019).
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation corrected 26 entries under its Venezuela sanctions regime, an Aug. 4 notice said. The corrections add and remove identifying information for the entries, which remain subject to an asset freeze.