The European Commission is cutting planned countervailing duties on Tesla vehicles imported from China by more than 10% and slightly lowering CVD on other EVs made by Chinese companies, it announced in draft definitive findings released Aug. 20.

The U.K. recently updated its export control guidance for academic research, adding new language to clarify how controls apply to research meant for publication or that benefit from “public domain exemptions.” The guidance specifies that research isn’t considered in the public domain until it’s “published and accessible to the public,” so sending “controlled” research overseas for peer review would require a license. “Once published the requirement of the licence will lapse as it is now in the public domain,” the U.K. said.

The U.K. last week expanded the criteria under which an individual or entity can be sanctioned under the nation's Russia sanctions regime. The changes entered into force July 31. The U.K. may now sanction an individual who directly or indirectly "owns or controls" or is "working as a director (whether executive or non-executive), trustee, or other manager or equivalent of," a sanctioned individual or entity. An individual also can be sanctioned for providing financial services to a sanctioned party. The sanctions amendment also altered the "ship specification criteria" to "specify additional activities" for which a ship may be affected.

The U.K. on Aug. 5 amended a Russia sanctions license allowing designated parties to make certain payments to British billing authorities. The update added a permission to the list of permitted payments, allowing for the payment of fees "owed by or due from UK" sanctioned parties to the billing authorities for "Business Improvement District levies."

The Council of the European Union on Aug. 5 sanctioned another 28 people for suppressing human rights in Belarus. The designations target two deputy heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Main Department for Combating Organised Crime and Corruption, which conducts "arbitrary and unlawful arrests" of activists and civil society members, the council said. Members of the judiciary and correctional institutions were also included for "politically motivated sentences" imposed against activists. Others sanctioned include "a group of long-time supporters of" Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, including the host of a news program and chairman of the Youth Council at the National Assembly of Belarus.

The U.K. on Aug. 2 renewed a sanctions license allowing for certain sales, divestments or transfers of "financial instruments" held by the Russian Central Securities Depository. The license now runs through Oct. 12.

The European Commission last week released a set of updated frequently asked questions on its Russia-related sanctions, offering guidance on how it treats "partner countries" in the context of its iron and steel restrictions and export controls.

The U.K. this week updated its antidumping duties on high fatigue performance steel concrete rebar from China to "reflect updated commodity codes." The duties range from 18.4% to 22.5%, with all non-individually examined exporters receiving the 22.5% rate. The U.K. Global Tariff commodity codes applicable are as follows:

The EU made its first transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine, making available over $1.6 billion, the European Commission announced. The funds are made up of sanctioned Russian Central Bank assets, 90% of which will head to the European Peace Facility and 10% to the Ukraine Facility, which will support Ukrainian defense and reconstruction efforts. The next wave of assets to be sent to Ukraine will take place in March, the commission said.

The European Commission on July 24 updated its consolidated list of frequently asked questions on its sanctions regimes for Russia and Belarus. The new FAQs update guidance on how sanctions impact depositary receipts, asset swaps, data sharing, advisory services, and more.