Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week, in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
A U.S. cryptocurrency trading software company this week agreed to pay more than $3 million to resolve allegations that it helped customers in Iran illegally access digital asset exchanges by suggesting they use virtual private networks to hide their location, violating U.S. sanctions.
Beijing this week sanctioned former Japanese senior military official Shigeru Iwasaki for accepting a role as a "political consultant" for the Taiwanese government, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Dec. 15 at a press conference. Iwasaki is "colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and making provocations," the spokesperson said during a regular daily meeting with reporters. "This amounts to a severe violation of the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, and a grave infringement on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." China designated Iwasaki under its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which freezes any assets he may hold in China, blocks Chinese organizations and people from carrying out transactions with him, and more.
Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Dave McCormick, R-Pa., introduced a companion Dec. 11 to a House bill that would authorize sanctions on the Yemen-based Houthis for various human rights violations, including unlawful killings. The Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., reintroduced the House version of the bill in March (see 2503070068).
A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers introduced an export control bill Dec. 11 aimed at protecting biotechnology intellectual property from theft by China.
The U.N. Security Council last week removed Iraqi national Munir al Qubaysi from its sanctions lists. It didn't release more information. The U.S. sanctioned al Qubaysi in 2004 for links to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
The Council of the EU on Dec. 15 renewed its sanctions on Venezuela for another year. The restrictions, which cover 69 people, now run until Jan. 10, 2027.
The Council of the European Union on Dec. 15 sanctioned three people and one entity related to gang violence and human rights abuses in Haiti. The designations target Michel Martelly, former president of Haiti, and Youri Latortue, Martelly's former political adviser, who were listed for arming and financing several gangs to promote their political and personal agendas. The council also sanctioned Rony Celestin, former senator of Haiti, for his links to various armed groups and "orchestrating" the murder of journalist Nehemie Joseph. The listed entity is Gang 5 Segond, a gang based in Port-au-Prince.
Australia last week launched what it called the world's first "autonomous sanctions framework" targeted toward Afghanistan, which it said will help it pressure Taliban officials who are oppressing the Afghan people. The measures put in place an arms embargo against Afghanistan, which blocks Australians from supplying arms or related materials or services to the country, and designate multiple Taliban officials, according to Australia's consolidated sanctions list, including various ministers and the group's "Chief Justice."
The EU this week announced new sanctions against Russia and created a new way for the bloc to designate people and entities involved in Belarus-related foreign information manipulation and interference.