The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved several bills July 22 aimed at speeding up the foreign arms sales process, strengthening the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership and enhancing certain Iran sanctions.
The Senate July 22 approved a House-passed bill that would require an annual report to Congress on where licensed dual-use goods are being sent abroad.
The U.K. on July 23 amended a pair of Russia sanctions licenses pursuant to the U.K. Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulation 2025.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is now accepting licensing questions through a new online platform and is planning to retire its current callback-only telephone system on Aug. 29, the agency said this week. Users that submit questions through the online platform will receive answers about specific OFAC licenses and interpretive guidance via email or by phone. Before submitting questions, OFAC said, users are encouraged to review existing sanctions FAQs, watch OFAC’s video guidance on applying for a license, review the agency’s best practices for license applications, and check their license application status.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that where the line should be drawn on export controls will be on the table during negotiations with Chinese officials in Stockholm next week.
The U.S. should impose new export controls on the subsystems of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and double down on enforcement for exports of advanced AI chips, including by potentially mandating that chip exporters use location-tracking features, the White House said in its new AI action plan. While the plan calls for tighter controls against China and other “strategic adversaries,” it also said the U.S. should strike deals with other countries to export American AI systems around the world.
The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 along party lines July 23 to approve David Peters' nomination as assistant secretary of commerce for export enforcement.
The State Department’s Defense Export Control and Compliance System's advisory opinions application will undergo system maintenance from 2 to 5 p.m. EDT July 25. "Industry users may experience service degradation, interruptions, or limited application functionality within DECCS during this maintenance window," the agency said. "If you experience any issues, please log back in after the maintenance window."
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., has been appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the panel announced July 22. Fine, who became a House member in April, introduced a bill in early July that would require a review of whether individuals or entities included on certain sanctions list should be included on other sanctions lists (see 2507070022). In late June, he introduced a bill to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The House approved by voice vote late July 21 a bill aimed at improving the investigative capabilities of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.