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.
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).