The U.K.'s Revenue & Customs fined a British company more than $1.26 million related to the "unlicensed trade of goods" in violation of sanctions on Russia, the customs agency announced. "Non-compliance with sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution," the agency said. The news release did not provide the name of the firm or the goods being sold but touted the U.K.'s new Economic Deterrence Initiative that addresses sanctions evasion "across the UK's trade, transport and financial sanctions."
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week suspended the export privileges of a California resident for the illegal sale of a controlled defense item to China and two others for illegally exporting firearms to Canada and Mexico.
A bill was introduced in the House that could lead to new export controls on genetic mapping technology and sanction entities in China and elsewhere involved in certain genetic mapping efforts. The bill would specifically direct the Commerce Department to deny licenses for those exporting these items to certain countries unless the exporter can submit documentation to the government "to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that, if the license is approved, the technology will not be used for human rights abuses or by an entity that has engaged in human rights abuses."
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week issued a notice making a minor editorial correction involving its Cuban Assets Control Regulations. OFAC said the error occurred in a reference to its Cuba regulations in the most recent annual revision of the Code of Federal Regulations. The CFR referenced "515.565(d)" when it should have referenced "515.565(f)."
Canada this week sanctioned four people and 29 entities for having “direct ties” to either Russia’s military-industrial complex, its financial industry or its nuclear sectors. Among those designated was a Russian military official associated with the “downing” of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight over Russian-controlled territory in 2014. Canada also sanctioned companies making dual-use aviation, marine and special nuclear equipment -- including Promtekhnologiya LLC, which produces weapons for Russian private military company Wagner Group -- and other financial entities linked to the Russian government.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned six Rwandan or Congolese nationals contributing to the “escalation of conflict” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. OFAC said each belongs to one of four armed groups causing instability in the DRC's eastern portion and committing “serious” human rights abuses.
The State Department this week sanctioned 11 people and two entities for their involvement in forcibly transferring and deporting Ukrainian children from Russia-occupied territories to Russia.
American chipmaker Nvidia continued to raise alarms this week about the potential of additional export restrictions on the U.S. semiconductor industry, saying new rules will hurt its long-term sales to China.
U.S. national security agencies recently warned the American space industry about increasing risks of theft from foreign intelligence services, saying companies need to be vigilant to protect their technology, data and intellectual property. A joint alert issued this month by the FBI, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center and the Air Force includes a list of red flags that may signal IP theft from foreign intelligence bodies and explains how the space industry can mitigate those risks.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's senior vice president for international policy said that when the trade ministers for the G-20 nations meet in India later this week, they should pledge not to hike tariffs, impose new export restraints or add digital trade barriers.