In a joint communication to the European Council on the state of European Union-Turkey relations, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell floated the possibility of expanding the sanctions framework on Turkey, additional sanctions listings and restrictions of the European Investment Bank, among other options to curb any Turkish breaches of international law. Other potential countermeasures against Turkey could involve targeting important sectors of the Turkish economy, including “a prohibition to supply of tourism services” and “import/export bans on certain goods and technologies” key to the energy sector. In the same communication, Borrell discussed expanding and modernizing the current EU-Turkey Customs Union as already proposed by the European Commission as a way to strengthen economic ties between the two sides.
The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added the Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd. to its sanctions list, subjecting it to an asset freeze, it said in a March 25 Financial Sanctions Notice. The major Myanmar conglomerate, owned by the Myanmar military, contributed to a series of fundraising events, which provided financial support to military personnel engaged in genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority in the Southeast Asian nation.
The Justice Department and Homeland Security Investigations can do more to track, analyze and disrupt illegal smuggling of guns into Mexico, the Government Accountability Office said in a March 24 report. The GAO said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives often receives incomplete data on thousands of U.S.-origin guns recovered in Mexican states, and said “additional data and analysis” by HSI “could enhance U.S. efforts to understand firearms sources and smuggling routes.” As a result, both agencies are “unable to assess” their progress toward stopping illegal gun exports and haven’t “fully developed performance measures” for those efforts.
President Joe Biden plans to continue to address Chinese human rights violations and unfair trade practices, and soon will host an “alliance of democracies” to discuss how to better hold China accountable, he told reporters March 25. Speaking during his first formal news conference as president, Biden didn’t say when the meeting with allies will take place but said he will push partners to make China “follow the rules.”
Wally Adeyemo was confirmed as deputy treasury secretary on a voice vote March 25. Adeyemo, whose nomination hearing was held a month ago, said there would be a comprehensive review of sanctions under the new administration (see 2102230047). Even though there was no recorded opposition to his nomination, Republicans required the cloture process to go forward, which delayed the vote by a week.
The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated the sanctions listings for one individual subject to Venezuela sanctions, three entities subject to Iran nuclear sanctions, two entities subject to Syria sanctions, and eight individuals subject to sanctions on ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida.
The Magnitsky Act is set to sunset in 2022, and the bipartisan authors of the original sanctions bill asked civil society representatives in the U.S. and Africa how the renewal should be shaped.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two more Myanmar entities, issued four new general licenses and published two new frequently asked questions to provide guidance on certain exempted transactions with Myanmar. The sanctions and guidance, issued March 25, came days after OFAC designated entities and officials associated with the country’s military-led coup last month (see 2103220036) and about three weeks after the Commerce Department increased export restrictions for shipments to Myanmar (see 2103040075).
The European Union is expanding its control over exports of COVID-19 vaccines made in the bloc and is now basing its decision to block exports on “reciprocity” and “proportionality,” the European Commission announced in a March 24 news release. The EC will consider whether the destination country restricts its own exports of vaccines or their components and whether the COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates in the target country are better or worse than the EU's, it said. The EC said it also will consider whether a vaccine export will threaten the EU's inoculation rate. Seventeen countries previously exempt from restrictions are now under export control while 92 low- and middle-income countries remain exempt, it said.
A group of Senate Democrats released text this week of a bill that would sanction the president of Honduras and block certain exports to Honduran police and military groups. The bill, which was introduced in February, would authorize sanctions on Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez for corruption and human rights violations and potentially designate him as a narcotics trafficker. It would also block U.S. agencies from issuing export licenses for shipments to Honduras’ police or military for certain control defense items and services. The export restrictions would apply to goods controlled under the Arms Export Control Act, including tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, handcuffs, tasers, certain firearms and other crowd-control items. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced the bill with co-sponsors Patrick Leahy, Vermont; Dick Durbin, Illinois; Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts; Bernie Sanders, Vermont; Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island; and Chris Van Hollen, Maryland.