Commerce's BIS extended the Temporary Denial Order for Russian air cargo operator Aviastar-TU initially imposed in April 2022. Aviastar has continued to engage in conduct prohibited by the TDO and Regulations, including, but not limited to, on flights into and out of Russia from/to Hangzhou, China as well as domestically within Russia. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is launching an enhanced strategy to combat illicit trade and support the American textile industry, with collaborative efforts between U.S. Customs and …

Wednesday, the United States has asked Mexico to review whether workers at Minera Tizapa S.A. de C.V., a zinc mine  Zacazonapan, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.  The US has suspended liquidation of tariffs on goods from the facility, a venture of of Industrias Peñoles and Japan's Sumitomo Corp. and Dowa Metals & Mining. Zinc concentrates produced at Tizapa are sent to Japan for processing. Earlier in the week the US asked Mexico to review whether workers at the Servicios Industriales González, S.A. de C.V. facility, a major metal fabricatorand supplier for Caterpillar, John Deere and Komatsu are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.  The United States has suspended liquidation on unliquidated entries of goods from the facility.  

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today released the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), which provides a comprehensive review of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce in key export markets for the United States. Some controversy arose as the list of offending countries has been pared. “The NTE Report has received unprecedented attention this year because we are taking steps to return it to its stated statutory purpose," said Ambassador Tai in explaining the changes.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has opened the application period for the following 2024-2025 committees and councils:  Advisory Committee, Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory …

In light of what seems to be an impending sense of defeatism and waning interest in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it approaches its 30th anniversary at the end of December, India has advocated for the prioritization of discussions on “cross-cutting, real-life trade issues” that disproportionately affect developing countries, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son urged the United States to recognize Vietnam as a market economy, arguing that the country could become an important part of US supply chains in the region. Vietnam has been pressing Washington to remove its current non-market economy status, which puts it in the same league as China and can leader to high tariffs in trade remedy cases.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen came down hard on China last week, warning that Beijing is dumping clean energy products on the global market, bringing down prices and threatening the Administration’s effort to promote green manufacturing. “I am concerned about global spillovers from the excess capacity that we are seeing in China,” Ms. Yellen said in a speech while visiting US solar company Suniva in Georgia.

Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has published an updated version of “Don’t Let This Happen to You ,"  a compendium of case examples highlighting their criminal and administrative enforcement efforts.

On March 26, the United States hosted the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) bilateral Enhanced Disruption Task Force (EDTF), which is being established to counter illicit efforts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to circumvent sanctions concerning the procurement of refined petroleum.   Through EDTF, the United States and ROK are pursuing a wide range of joint actions to disrupt DPRK refined oil procurement networks, including by exposing DPRK sanctions evasion activities, reviewing options for autonomous sanctions designations, and engaging private sector and third-party actors throughout the region who facilitate – either knowingly or unwittingly – the DPRK’s oil procurement networks.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced that Brendan Lynch will serve as the Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia.   Lynch had served as the Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia since March of 2023. His more than ten years with the USTR have included posts as Director for India and Director of Agricultural Affairs.

China has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding certain tax credits under the US Inflation Reduction Act to promote the production of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects. The request was circulated to WTO members on 28 March.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a request for information (RFI) related to existing requirements for banks under the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule to collect a taxpayer identification number (TIN) from a customer prior to opening an account.  

  The United States International Trade Commission proposes to amend its Rules of Practice and Procedure concerning rules of general application, safeguards, antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, and section 337 adjudication and enforcement.

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning six entities, one individual and two tankers that are based or registered in Liberia, India, Vietnam, Lebanon, and Kuwait that have engaged in facilitating commodity shipments and financial transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), the Houthis, and Hizballah.

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 11 individuals and entities supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad through the facilitation of illicit financial transfers and trafficking of illegal drugs, as well as the extraction and export of Syrian commodities.  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—the global standard-setting body for anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF)—announced that the United States has been upgraded to “largely compliant” with FATF Recommendation 24, which relates to beneficial ownership transparency for legal persons.

Speaker Mike Johnson  named Michigan representative John Molnar to take over the Chairmanship of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party being vacated by Rep. Mike Gallagher(R-WI). The Midland Michigan lawmaker can be expected to continue Mr. Gallagher's efforts to cultivate bipartisan consensus on commercial relations with our greatest adversary.

A California man was sentanced for attempting to ship firearms and night-vision equipment to the Sultanate of Oman.  He attempted to conceal the firearms by disassembling them, wrapping them in aluminum foil, and then secreting them within automobiles inside the shipping container.

United States’ second National Action Plan (NAP) on Responsible Business Conduct was released Monday. "reflecting a commitment to strengthen and improve respect for human rights and labor rights, expand use of green energy, counter corruption, protect human rights defenders, advance gender equity and equality, and promote rights-respecting use of technology," according to a statement. One element of the plan calls for suspension or debarment of federal contractors repeatedly cited by CBP for violations.