The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nine companies operating in Iran’s metals sector, including five subsidiaries of Iran-based Mobarakeh Steel Company, the agency said June 25. The sanctions target Mobarakeh Steel subsidiary Germany-based Tara Steel Trading GmbH; Mobarakeh majority-owned Iran-based Metil Steel; and Mobarakeh majority-owned Pacific Steel FZE, Better Future General Trading Co LLC and Tuka Metal Trading DMCC, all based in the United Arab Emirates. OFAC also designated Iran-based South Aluminum Company, Sirjan Jahan Steel Complex and Iran Central Iron Ore Company.
More than a dozen Canadian senators asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sanction Chinese officials for human rights violations against Hong Kong protesters and the country’s Uighur population. In a June 23 letter, the lawmakers said they sent Trudeau a list of Chinese officials who should be designated with Magnitsky Act sanctions and said China has committed “gross” violations of freedoms. “China is continuously showing us that it poses the biggest threat to mankind and a danger to international security,” the senators said. President Donald Trump said he is planning to impose sanctions on China (see 2005290047) but also said he previously held off doing so to avoid damaging the countries’ trade deal (see 2006220023).
The Bureau of Industry and Security postponed the effective date for certain filing requirements outlined in an April rule on military-related exports (see 2004270027). The agency said this week it will not require Electronic Export Information filings for some exports captured under the rule until Sept. 27 -- a three-month extension from the original June 29 effective date. Other EEI filing requirements described under the rule take effect June 29.
The Senate’s 2021 Intelligence Authorization Act would require the director of National Intelligence to assess U.S. export controls on critical technologies, according to a June 17 Senate report on the bill. The bill, which was passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this month, calls for a review of U.S. controls on artificial intelligence, microchips, advanced manufacturing equipment and “other AI-enabled technologies,” the report said. It would also require the administration to identify areas for export control cooperation with “international partners.” Another provision in the bill requires the CIA, the Treasury Department and the FBI to submit a report to Congress on Chinese and Russian officials that could be targeted with U.S. sanctions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the captains of five ships used by Iranian shipping lines to deliver Iranian gasoline to Venezuela, OFAC said in a June 24 news release. The ships belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the National Iranian Tanker Company, both of which are sanctioned by OFAC. The sanctions target Ali Danaei Kenarsari, of the Clavel tanker; Mohsen Gohardehi, the Petunia; Alireza Rahnavard, the Fortune; Reza Vaziri, the Forest; and Hamidreza Yahya Zadeh, the Faxon.
The United Kingdom presented its sanctions regulations for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nicaragua to Parliament June 22, detailing sanctions authorities that will take effect after Brexit. The regulations include designation authorities, sanctions exceptions and licenses, and penalties for violations.
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The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. is closely monitoring Chinese investors who are trying to take advantage of struggling U.S. companies, trade lawyers said. CFIUS is also focusing on the semiconductor sector, where Chinese entities are hoping to evade recent U.S. rules that impose more strict license restrictions on sales of semiconductors and other technology to China and Huawei (see 2005150058), the lawyers said.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany suggested they would support a continued arms embargo against Iran but opposed U.S. threats of snapback sanctions. The scheduled expiration of the embargo would have “major implications for regional security and stability,” the countries said in a June 19 statement, adding that they plan to discuss the matter with Russia or China. But the three nations rejected U.S. threats to invoke snapback sanctions under the Iran nuclear deal if the embargo is not extended (see 2006090047). “Any unilateral attempt to trigger [United Nations] sanctions snapback would have serious adverse consequences in the UN [Security Council],” they said.
Australia’s Department of Defense updated its application form for the export of controlled goods and technology, a June 18 notice said. Effective June 22, Australia accepts only the new version of the form.