The Commerce Department plans to add 11 Chinese-based entities to its Entity List for their involvement in human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. Nine of the entities are involved in the forced labor of Muslim minority groups and two of the entities conduct “genetic analyses” to “further the repression” of the minorities, Commerce said. The additions take effect July 22.
China said it still plans to fulfill its commitments under the phase one trade deal with the U.S. despite rising tensions over Hong Kong and a host of new U.S. sanctions and export restrictions (see 2007150019, 2007140068, 2007010040 and 2006290063). The trade agreement will “benefit both countries and the world,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said July 16, according to an unofficial translation of a press conference transcript. “We will implement the signed agreements.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking comments on an information collection related to letters of attestation for exports of controlled medical exports, a notice in the Federal Register said. Exporters must support these letters to certify that they qualify for one of FEMA’s exemptions for exports of personal protective equipment before their shipment can be approved (see 2004200019 and 2004210022). Comments are due Sept. 15.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control updated its Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations and added a general license authorizing certain U.S. government activities with Nicaragua, a notice said. The notice incorporates the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 into the regulations, which includes certain technical edits and the addition of the “delegation of certain functions with respect to the NHRAA,” OFAC said. It also expands a provision of the regulations to include more clarity on blocked transactions and incorporates a previously issued general license that authorizes certain Nicaragua-related activities. The rule is effective July 17.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on July 16 extended the expiration dates for two Ukraine-related general licenses that authorize certain transactions with U.S.-sanctioned GAZ Group. Both licenses were scheduled to expire July 22 and now expire Jan. 22, 2021. General License No. 13O, which replaces No. 13N, authorizes certain transactions necessary to divestments and debt transfers. General License No. 15I, which replaces No. 15H, authorizes certain transactions related to the “manufacture and sale of existing and new models of vehicles” -- including components, engines and commercial vehicles -- produced by GAZ Group.
A United Arab Emirates manufacturer will pay about $660,000 as part of a settlement agreement for violating U.S. sanctions against North Korea, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a July 16 notice. Essentra FZE Company Limited, a cigarette filter and tear tape manufacturer, illegally exported cigarette filters to North Korea through a network of front companies, including companies in China, OFAC said. Essentra FZE was paid for the shipments through a bank account belonging to a foreign branch of a U.S. bank.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is considering imposing new license requirements on facial recognition software and surveillance-related items that may be used for crowd control reasons or to violate human rights. BIS said in a notice it is reviewing changes to the Commerce Control List and is seeking industry feedback about CCL items that are restricted for crime control and detection reasons. Comments are due Sept. 15.
The U.S. Embassy in Libya threatened sanctions against people, governments and entities causing violence in Libya and disrupting the country’s economy. In a July 12 statement, the embassy said “foreign-backed efforts against Libya’s economic and financial sectors” have affected the country’s National Oil Corporation and “heightened the risk of confrontation.” The embassy specifically mentioned attacks by Wagner mercenaries -- controlled by the U.S.-sanctioned, Russia-based PMC Wagner -- against NOC facilities. “Those who undermine Libya’s economy and cling to military escalation will face isolation and risk of sanctions,” the embassy said.
The U.S. authorized new sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 and other Russian pipelines (see 1912190075), clearing the way for designations of people and entities associated with Russian gas projects, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Those involved with the project may now be subject to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, Pompeo said during a July 15 news conference.
The Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, which includes the U.S., sanctioned four entities and two people for providing financial support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the Treasury Department said July 15. The TFTC -- which also includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- targeted companies that have offered the Islamic State a “critical financial and logistical lifeline,” Treasury said.