Four individuals were arrested, and an indictment and criminal complaint were unsealed this week regarding two separate conspiracies to unlawfully export controlled, dual-use technologies to Russia. October 31, a criminal complaint was unsealed, and a Brooklyn, New York, resident and two Canadian nationals were arrested in connection with a global procurement scheme in which the defendants used two corporate entities registered in Brooklyn to unlawfully source and purchase dual-use electronics on behalf of end-users in Russia, including companies affiliated with the Russian military. Separately, a Brooklyn resident was arrested, and a four-count indictment was unsealed alleging an illegal exports scheme to procure dual-use electronic components for entities in Russia involved in the development and manufacture of drones for the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, along with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), unveiled the American Security Drone Act Nov. 1.
GE Healthcare Technologies, a spinoff of General Electric, has reported potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in its China-based operations. The disclosure was made in the company's quarterly filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Ootober 31. According to the filing, GE Healthcare identified "tender irregularities and other potential violations" related to its activities across multiple Chinese provinces. This marks the first instance that the company has publicly acknowledged possible FCPA violations.
November 5-12, 2023, for the seventh in-person negotiating round of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). In San Francisco, the IPEF partners will continue to make progress on negotiations towards high-standard outcomes under Pillars I (Trade), III (Clean Economy), and IV (Fair Economy).
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, with recommendations for the implementation of the Biden Administration's August Executive Order on outbound American investment in China.
In a coordinated effort with Canada and the UK, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a new directive that prohibits certain financial services by U.S. persons to or for the benefit of Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), as well as five military regime appointed officials and officers.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is pausing for approximately 90 days the issuance of new export licenses involving certain firearms, related components, and ammunition under its jurisdiction and the provision of new export assistance activities for such products to all non-governmental end users worldwide, apart from those in certain destinations.
World Trade Organization members participating in the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative negotiations on e-commerce were taken by surprise yesterday by the United States’ announcement it with withdrawing its support for three core proposals – cross-border data flows, the location of computing facilities and source code, according to participants involved in the discussions. At a meeting of the JSI on digital trade Wednesday, a US official announced that Washington is withdrawing the proposals on the three issues due to on public policy considerations as well as privacy grounds, said participants who asked not to be quoted.
Following their meetings in Washington last week, U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian President Anthony Albanese released a summary memorandum describing the many commitments and collaborations promised for the allies. The leaders covered a broad swath of inquiry, from research in responsible and ethical AI solutions, private sector investments, space technology safeguards, clean energy collaboration, critical minerals supply chains, Pacific connectivity, cyber resilience, financial access in the Pacific Islands, infrastructure development, defense and security cooperation, to public diplomacy, or the P.R. required to sell the schemes to their citizenry.
The Federal government announced the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against the Motor Yacht Amadea, a 348-foot luxury vessel reportedly worth over $300 million. The Complaint alleges that the superyacht, which is beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, was improved and maintained in violation of applicable sanctions against Kerimov and those acting on his behalf.
Certain Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of China; Recission; AM Stone Certain Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of China; Recission; Global Stone Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Ripe Olives from Spain …
Two House bills seek to enforce sanctions on Iranian petroleum transactions.
US and European Union negotiators were unable to reach agreement on a global steel arrangement in time for Friday’s leaders summit, but they agreed to continue negotiations and hold off on tariff hikes in the meantime. Negotiators had hoped to have a deal in hand for leaders to endorse at the White House summit, but officials said more work is needed before both sides can support agreements on steel and aluminum and energy subsidies. President Biden’s meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen ended up being primarily focused on international issues, including the war between Israel and Hamas and ensuring continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.
President Biden will host Western Hemisphere leaders at the White House on November 3 for the first Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will be in Osaka over the weekend for the G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting. G7 trade ministers will gather on October 28 to 29. During this meeting, Ambassador Tai will participate in ministerial sessions on how G7 members can work together to address sustainability and resilience in the global trading system.
Congressional-Executive Commission on China Chair Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and co-chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) are calling on the Administration to impose export controls on technology used by China to collect biometric data in Tibet. The request follows a prior letter by CECC Commissioners to the CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific that expressed concerns that Thermo Fisher products were used for mass biometric data collection and surveillance that “could enable further gross violations” of the human rights of Tibetans.
US and European Union officials met Oct. 24 to discuss insurance issues at a session of the Joint Committee established under the US-EU Agreement on Prudential Measures Regarding Insurance and Reinsurance. The agreement addresses three areas of prudential insurance oversight: (1) reinsurance; (2) group supervision and (3) the exchange of insurance information between supervisors.
The Administration issued a Business Advisory on Uganda Oct. 23, cautioning about potential risks involved in doing business in Uganda. Businesses, organizations and individuals should be aware of potential financial and reputational risks resulting from endemic corruption, described in more detail in the 2023 Investment Climate Statement, as well as violence against human rights activists, media members, health workers, members of minority groups, LGBTQI+ persons and political opponents described in the 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Uganda, according to the advisory.
With the window rapidly closing for Congress to pass a farm bill this year, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Oct. 24 that USDA is providing $2.3 billion to maintain trade promotion and international food aid. The funding is coming out of the Commodity Credit Corporation, at the request of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Mr. Vilsack told reporters.
The Commerce Department announced Oct. 24 it will begin a review of Vietnam’s non-market economy status. The review comes at the request of Vietnam. On September 8, government of Vietnam filed an official request that Commerce consider it a market economy citing the country’s economic reforms made in recent years.
