Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., asked the Trump administration to sanction 20 Chinese companies after they were identified last week by the Defense Department as having ties to the Chinese military (see 2006250024). The lawmakers said they hope the administration releases the names of more companies, and called on President Donald Trump to “impose economic penalties.” The lawmakers said the list “is one piece of a broader campaign our nation must wage against the Chinese Communist Party and its parasitic technology transfer efforts.”
Switzerland announced sanctions against Nicaragua on June 24 for human rights violations. The sanctions target six people with ties to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, including two of Ortega’s personal advisers and four “high-ranking” justice system and police force officials, Switzerland’s Federal Council said. The sanctions impose asset freezes and travel bans.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nine companies operating in Iran’s metals sector, including five subsidiaries of Iran-based Mobarakeh Steel Company, the agency said June 25. The sanctions target Mobarakeh Steel subsidiary Germany-based Tara Steel Trading GmbH; Mobarakeh majority-owned Iran-based Metil Steel; and Mobarakeh majority-owned Pacific Steel FZE, Better Future General Trading Co LLC and Tuka Metal Trading DMCC, all based in the United Arab Emirates. OFAC also designated Iran-based South Aluminum Company, Sirjan Jahan Steel Complex and Iran Central Iron Ore Company.
More than a dozen Canadian senators asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sanction Chinese officials for human rights violations against Hong Kong protesters and the country’s Uighur population. In a June 23 letter, the lawmakers said they sent Trudeau a list of Chinese officials who should be designated with Magnitsky Act sanctions and said China has committed “gross” violations of freedoms. “China is continuously showing us that it poses the biggest threat to mankind and a danger to international security,” the senators said. President Donald Trump said he is planning to impose sanctions on China (see 2005290047) but also said he previously held off doing so to avoid damaging the countries’ trade deal (see 2006220023).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the captains of five ships used by Iranian shipping lines to deliver Iranian gasoline to Venezuela, OFAC said in a June 24 news release. The ships belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the National Iranian Tanker Company, both of which are sanctioned by OFAC. The sanctions target Ali Danaei Kenarsari, of the Clavel tanker; Mohsen Gohardehi, the Petunia; Alireza Rahnavard, the Fortune; Reza Vaziri, the Forest; and Hamidreza Yahya Zadeh, the Faxon.
The United Kingdom presented its sanctions regulations for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nicaragua to Parliament June 22, detailing sanctions authorities that will take effect after Brexit. The regulations include designation authorities, sanctions exceptions and licenses, and penalties for violations.
The United Kingdom on June 17 posted cyber sanctions regulations to take effect after Brexit. The regulations outline U.K. powers to designate people and entities, criteria for sanctions and various definitions to aid in sanctions implementation. The regulations also detail information on exceptions and licenses for the sanctions, reporting obligations and penalties for violations.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended 10 entries on its Iran sanctions list, a June 22 notice said. The entries include updated identifying information and are still subject to asset freezes. They include eight individuals and two entities.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a technical notice June 22 informing industry of the agency’s upcoming annual renewal of the public certificate that secures its website. That renewal may impact OFAC sanctions list downloads “if your application pins or otherwise trusts the serial number of the existing certificate as part your application functionality.” OFAC said users “may need to update your configuration to trust the renewed certificate.” The certificate will be replaced at 9 p.m. on June 25 and will take about three to six hours for worldwide distribution, OFAC said. The notice contains a link to download the renewed public certificate. OFAC is advising users to make sure their applications trust the new certificate by the replacement date “to prevent loss in functionality.”
The U.S. renewed sanctions against North Korea for one year, according to a June 17 White House notice. The U.S. said North Korea’s weapons proliferation activities still pose a threat to U.S. national security. The national emergency executive order that was to expire June 26, 2020, will extend to June 26, 2021.