China sanctioned 11 U.S. citizens Aug. 10, including six lawmakers, days after the U.S. designated various Hong Kong officials for implementing Beijing’s so-called national security law (see 2008070039). Along with its sanctions, China criticized the U.S., saying it should “correct” the designations, which included asset freezes of security officials and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.
Ian Cohen
Ian Cohen, Deputy Managing Editor, is a reporter with Export Compliance Daily and its sister publications International Trade Today and Trade Law Daily, where he covers export controls, sanctions and international trade issues. He previously worked as a local government reporter in South Florida. Ian graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2017 and lives in Washington, D.C. He joined the staff of Warren Communications News in 2019.
The U.S. on Aug. 7 sanctioned 11 top Hong Kong officials and police leaders for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy. The designations, which came after Congress passed several bills targeting Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong (see 2007020046 and 1911290012), were the first sanctions imposed under President Donald Trump’s July executive order on Hong Kong normalization (see 2007150019).
The U.S. announced a ban on transactions with the parent companies of TikTok and WeChat, two Chinese-owned apps that President Donald Trump said threaten U.S. national security. In executive orders issued Aug. 6, the U.S. said it will prohibit any transaction with TikTok owner ByteDance and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings, beginning in 45 days.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will continue export restrictions on an amended list of personal protective equipment through Dec. 31, the agency said in a notice released Aug. 6. The restrictions, which were scheduled to expire this month, now cover four categories of items, including certain respirators, masks, gloves and surgical gowns -- a decrease from the six categories FEMA has restricted since April. The changes take effect Aug. 10.
The U.S. needs to pour more resources into research and innovation of emerging technologies to boost commercialization and outpace Chinese technology development, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said. Blackburn advocated for a methodical decoupling from China, saying the U.S. needs to reshore manufacturing of critical technologies to help U.S. industries be more competitive in foreign markets.
U.S. export controls are set to become more of a factor at universities worldwide as U.S.-China technology competition accelerates, forcing academic institutions to adjust to an expanding basket of regulations and compliance standards, a Hinrich Foundation report said. Colleges, which already struggle with insufficient government export control guidance (see 2005120053), need to be prepared for increased controls on software and networks, placement of foreign universities on blacklists and bans on certain foreign funding, the report said.
Democratic and Republican senators called on the State Department to do more to pressure the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, saying the U.S.’s approach, which they called ineffective, should include more multilateral support and stronger sanctions against Maduro’s allies. Several senators said they would back legislation to grant the administration more sanctions powers.
A State Department spokesperson criticized accusations levied this week by House and Senate Democratic leaders over the administration’s 2019 emergency military sales to Gulf states, saying the agency has been transparent during a congressional probe of the sales. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bob Menendez, D.-N.J., subpoenaed four State Department officials Aug. 3 over what they say was an improper use of emergency powers to expedite arms sales (see 2008030046), adding that the agency was “stonewalling” their investigation.
The U.S. will boost restrictions on software companies connected to China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, adding that the administration is focused on increasing penalties on businesses associated with human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. Pompeo said the companies’ use of facial recognition and artificial intelligence software -- two areas the Commerce Department is reviewing for stricter export controls (see 2007220050) -- aids the Chinese military and helps to suppress Muslim minority groups.
The U.S. on July 31 sanctioned a Chinese state-controlled organization and two Chinese officials for human rights violations in Xinjiang. The sanctions target the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, former XPCC Party Secretary Sun Jinlong and XPCC Deputy Party Secretary Peng Jiarui.