The U.K. delisted two individuals and two entities from its Syria sanctions regime Dec. 17, though it said all four parties remain sanctioned under different restrictions regimes.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week renewed two Russia-related general licenses that authorize certain transactions related to crude oil originating from the Sakhalin-2 project and certain transactions with Russian entities related to civil nuclear energy.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Mexico-based Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima and its leader, Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, saying it's in a "violent conflict" with Cartel Jalisco Nuevo Generacion for control of fuel in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. The cartel also participates in an energy black market that undermines legitimate U.S. oil and natural gas companies, the U.S. said, and is involved in trafficking heroin into the country. The Treasury Department said Yepez Ortiz was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2022 and sentenced to 60 years in prison, but he continues to be "active" in the cartel, including by sending instructions and orders through lawyers and family members.
The U.S. needs to significantly improve its enforcement of Russia sanctions, especially against the country’s shadow fleet and oil industry, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and other speakers at a Brookings Institution event this week.
Nearly 21,000 companies could be affected by new export license requirements if the Bureau of Industry and Security reinstates its 50% rule, also known as the Affiliates Rule, financial services company Moody's said this week.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on Dec. 15 suspended the export privileges of six people after they were convicted of export-related offenses, including illegal shipments involving guns to Mexico, dual-use parts to Russia, items to Chinese companies on the Entity List, and more. The suspensions took effect from the date of their convictions.
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., urged the Treasury Department on Dec. 12 to consider sanctioning Chinese-managed oil tanker Luois; its operator, Qingdao Ocean Kimo Ship Management Co. Ltd.; and its owner, Fung Nam Ltd., for their role in sanctions evasion.
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., has asked the Commerce Department to explain how the Trump administration arrived at its decision to allow Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 AI chip to China (see 2512080059), the panel said Dec. 16.
A bipartisan group of four senators introduced a bill Dec. 16 to impose additional sanctions targeting Russia’s oil revenue.
The State Department is designating Colombia-based drug trafficking group Clan del Golfo a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the agency said in Federal Register notices released this week. The State Department called the group a "violent and powerful criminal organization with thousands of members," adding that it traffics cocaine and is responsible for attacks against public officials, law enforcement, military personnel and civilians in Colombia.