Congress and the executive branch should use a mix of export controls and foreign investment restrictions to prevent China from using biotechnology to commit human rights abuses, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said in its 2024 annual report.
The Commerce Department’s fall 2024 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security features a host of new rules that could soon update U.S. export controls, including restrictions on aircraft engines, biological equipment and reporting requirements for certain weapons sales, AI chips.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced a bill Dec. 20 to sanction Turkey if it doesn't renew a recently expired ceasefire between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Canada this week criticized Beijing’s recent decision to sanction two Canadian civil society organizations and human rights activists (see 2412230058), saying the measures were designed to “punish them for speaking out for human rights.” China sanctioned the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project in Canada and the Canada-Tibet Committee, among others, days after Canada imposed its own sanctions against Chinese officials for human rights violations (see 2412110016).
The Bureau of Industry and Security issued several corrections to its September rule that outlined new export controls on certain advanced technologies, including quantum computing, semiconductor manufacturing and 3D printing technology (see 2409050028). The corrections, released Dec. 26 and effective Dec. 27, clarify a reference to quantum items eligible for a deemed export and deemed reexport exclusion, fix several “inadvertent errors” involving citations, and more.
Physical mechanisms built into AI hardware could represent a “promising new tool” to help the U.S. better control exports of sensitive technologies, including to China, the Center for a New American Security said in a new report this month.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit stayed a nationwide injunction of the Corporate Transparency Act’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements on Dec. 23, temporarily lifting a recent federal court order that was set to block the rules from taking effect for most companies Jan. 1 (see 2412090065).
Indium Corp., which the Bureau of Industry and Security earlier this week penalized for violating export controls against Russia (see 2412230052), has since “enhanced” its internal compliance program and improved its compliance training for employees, CEO Ross Berntson said in an emailed statement. Berntson also noted that Indium voluntarily disclosed the issue to BIS and “fully cooperated with the resulting investigation.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and four other lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office in a Dec. 18 letter to study whether U.S. agencies need additional sanctions authorities to go after illegal mining or other foreign environmental crimes committed by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The letter says that illegal mining of metals and minerals is booming in the Western Hemisphere and is harming the environment while enriching TCOs. Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Maria Salazar, R-Fla., also signed the letter.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week issued another reminder for users of its website to fill out a survey (see 2410110053) that will give OFAC feedback on how it can streamline the site’s navigation and improve its “sanctions guidance, resource accessibility, and user experience.” The survey closes Dec. 30.