The U.K. amended one entry under its Myanmar sanctions regime, in a May 10 notice. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation changed the listing to reflect the company's name change from Synpex Shwe Company Ltd. to SS Techniques Company Limited, with the original name now listed as one the company is also known as.

The EU is proposing a “new tool” to combat sanctions circumvention by penalizing third countries that ship EU goods to Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week. The measure, part of the EU’s most recent proposed sanctions package against Russia, could allow member states to impose export controls on those third countries.

Russian exports of grain and certain other agricultural commodities have been “strong” over the past year and are expected to continue flourishing despite its “claims of export challenges,” USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a May 8 report. Although global grain and oilseed markets “have been roiled” by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the agency said Russia is forecast to reach a record for annual wheat exports, adding that the country’s grain and oilseed exports have “thrived during the current marketing year with ample supplies and competitive prices.” Russia could be exporting even more if not for the government's self-imposed trade restrictions, such as export taxes and quotas.

A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with three recent sanctions decisions from the EU under its ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaeda, Syria and Iran sanctions regimes, the European Council said.

The European Commission released a guidance note May 3 pertaining to the implementation of "firewalls" that allow EU entities controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities to trade in agricultural products, including wheat and fertilizers. The firewall "removes the control by the designated person so that the EU entity’s business operations in the trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers can continue, while keeping the funds and economic resources owned by the designated person frozen." The guidance discusses the requirements of a firewall, including "entities for which a firewall may be established," as well as the implementation of a firewall. The guidance breaks down firewalls by legislation and operators and the exchange of information concerning cross-border situations.

The European Commission and office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy floated a proposal for a new sanctions regime to target corruption. In a joint communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Economic and Social Committee, they said the regime would allow for sanctions where acts of corruption "seriously affect or risk affecting the fundamental interests of the Union and the objectives of the" Common Foreign and Security Policy. Such acts of corruption include "passive or active bribery" of a public official or "embezzlement or misappropriation" of funds by a public official.

A Russian government delegation and U.N. representatives will carry out the next round of negotiations on implementing the agreement that promotes Russian products and fertilizers on the global markets, Russian government news agency Tass said. The meeting, set for May 5, will take place the same date as the deputy defense ministers of Turkey, Russia and Ukraine are due for a discussion on the extension of the Black Sea crop export corridor, Bloomberg reported May 3. The Ukraine grain deal has allowed nearly 30 million tons of Ukrainian crops to be shipped since its signing in July.

The European Commission officially adopted measures allowing five EU members to restrict imports of four Ukrainian agriculture products. Until June 5, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia will impose "exceptional and temporary preventive measures" on imports of wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed from Ukraine. Each of the five countries has committed to lifting unilateral restrictions on those and other products coming from Ukraine, the EC said.

The European Commission this week proposed a measure to renew and expand the suspension of duties and quotas on imports from Moldova for another year. The measures were initially imposed to ease economic pressures on Moldova due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The commission said the measures allow for an expedited safeguard mechanism that can be used to protect the EU agriculture industry if needed. The European Parliament and the European Council will next consider the suspension extension.

The U.K. issued a General License under its Russia and Belarus sanctions regimes permitting sanctioned individuals and entities to pay legal fees to law firms and counsel. The license took effect on April 29 and permits these payments in relation to any matter, except defamation or malicious falsehood proceedings, until Oct. 28. The license distinguishes between legal services issued pre-listing and post-listing.