Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs announced June 3 that starting June 14, the export of nitrocellulose to Russia and Belarus will be banned, according to an unofficial translation. The move comes after the island banned the export of 77 "machine tools" to the two nations earlier this year, the ministry said. Nitrocellulose is a "key component of smokeless gunpowder" and has already been designated as a controlled item in the U.S. and the EU. The ministry also reminded traders that the fine for first-time illegal exports to Russia and Belarus "has been significantly increased" to about $138,000.
Dimitry Timashev, a dual U.S. and Russian citizen, pleaded guilty on June 7 to illegally exporting firearm parts and ammunition to Russia, DOJ announced.
The U.K. last week updated the listing for International Gateways Group of Company Limited under its Myanmar sanctions regime. The listing changed the name of the firm from International Gateways Group of Companies to International Gateways Group of Company and the address of the entity. The U.K. also said the company has been involved in the "repression of the civilian population in Myanmar" and the "commission of serious human rights violations" in the nation.
Switzerland, following the EU's lead, sanctioned two people and one entity for allegedly spreading propaganda promoting Russia's war in Ukraine. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs listed former Ukrainian politicians Artem Marchevskyi and Viktor Medvedchuk, along with the Voice of Europe media outlet. The EU sanctioned these same parties last month (see 2405280062). Switzerland also amended the listings of 12 people and 17 entities under its Russia sanctions regime.
The EU General Court on May 29 dismissed a suit from Belarusian Airlines AAT challenging the validity of its 2021 sanctions designation.
The EU General Court on May 29 annulled the European Council's sanctions designation of Russian businessperson Farkhad Akhmedov, founder of Russian gas equipment supplier Tansley Trading and minority shareholder of Northgas. The court said that the council "made an error of assessment" in sanctioning Akhmedov "by considering that the applicant was a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors which provided a substantial source of revenue to" the Russian government.
World Trade Organization members last week agreed on chairpersons for 13 of the body's subsidiary committees for 2024, the WTO announced:
The EU on May 31 opened compliance proceedings against Colombia regarding the South American nation's alleged failure to comply with World Trade Organization rulings regarding its antidumping duties on frozen fries from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, the EU's Directorate-General for Trade announced.
China will reimpose tariffs on 134 items from Taiwan because Taipei didn't reciprocate with similar tariff concessions as part of a trade deal with Beijing, China's Ministry of Commerce announced May 31, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said it revoked the previously issued tariff suspensions because Taiwan violated the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on gradually eliminating tariffs on most of the goods traded between the parties. The tariffs will be reinstated starting June 15, Chinese state-run news outlet Xinhua reported.
Lars Winkelbauer, former executive at Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, was sentenced to four years in prison on May 30 for his role in a scheme to defraud his former employer out of more than $32 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.