The Five Eyes Security Alliance issued a joint bulletin warning about continued efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to recruit current and former Western military personnel to train the PRC military. "The most sought-after targets to-date have been military pilots, flight engineers, and air operations center personnel. The PRC has also targeted technical experts with insight into Western military tactics, techniques, and procedures," according to the bulletin.

 This report documents defense articles and defense services licensed for permanent export to each foreign country and international organization during fiscal year 2023.

The Department of Commerce  seeks public comment to inform its work on assessing and analyzing risk in global supply chains. The deadline is June 21. This includes input into a determination of an initial list of “critical sectors” and “key goods” as provided under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement Relating to Supply Chain Resilience.

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed a civil penalty against Airbus DS Government Solutions Inc., a Texas-based satellite communications and networking systems company for shipping trade show materials to Kuwait certifying that the goods were not of Israeli origin and not manufactured by a company on the “Israeli Boycott Blacklist.” In November 2023 BIS announced  a civil penalty of $44,750 against Forta LLC (Forta), a manufacturer of synthetic reinforcement fibers, for similar trade show infractions

Ericsson announced the conclusion of the work and term of the independent compliance Monitor appointed by the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) in June of 2020 in connection with Ericsson’s 2019 Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) to resolve historical violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The March 2023 Plea Agreement with the DOJ that followed non-criminal breaches of the DPA has also expired as of June 2.

A bipartisian gropu of China hawks on Capitol Hill sent  sent a letter to MSCI's President Henry Fernandez outlining "significant concerns" after the firm removed its forced labor red flag for Volkswagen's factory in China. The Volkswagen factory in Xinjiang is known for using Uyghur forced labor, This led MSCI, an American finance company, to grant Volkswagen a “red flag” rating in 2022.  However, MSCI , relying on an audit the lawmakers describe as "flawed," made the decision to lift Volkswagen’s “red flag” rating. 

The US Export-Import Bank has failed to make an impact on trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa, despite a congressional mandate for expansion and extensive overseas travel by EXIM President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Reta Jo Lewis.

In a statement released May 31,  CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller addressed  the Bureau's efforts to "Enhance Enforcement and Prevent Exploitation in the De Minimis Environment."  "While the majority of brokers, carriers, and supply chain businesses that participate in CBP’s Entry Type 86 Test are compliant with applicable laws, we are enhancing our enforcement efforts to ensure that all participants are held accountable when they are not," he said.

In an Opinion piece published in The Financial Times, Deputy Treasury Secretary Adeyemo continued his call for more diligence on the part of allies, industry and the banking community. "It is important to recognise that the success of our sanctions and export controls is only possible because of a partnership with the private sector. Companies have already done a great deal to help us constrain the Kremlin’s access to goods, but we need them to do more." Mr. Adeyemo said he was not faulting U.S. manufacturers and banks as complicit in Russia's efforts to evade sanctions. "Every time I talk to a major CEO, they ask me what more can they do?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is renewing the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Export Manifest for Vessel Cargo Test, a National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test concerning ACE export manifest capability. The ACE Export Manifest for Vessel Cargo Test is a voluntary test in which participants agree to submit export manifest data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) electronically at least twenty-four hours prior to loading of the cargo onto the vessel in preparation for departure from the United States.

The Ninth annual Nordic-Baltic + U.S. Cyber Consultation (NB8 + U.S.) met in Tallinn, Estonia on May 28. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Cyberspace Security Liesyl Franz led the U.S. delegation and advocated the United States’ International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy.

The Department of State is publicly designating five current and former Ugandan officials for their involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights. Included in the action are the Speaker of Parliament, Former Minister of Karamoja Affairs, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, and the Minister of State for Finance. Additionally, the former Deputy Chief of the Ugandan Peoples’ Defence Forces is designated due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two companies that are linked to the Private Military Company “Wagner” (Wagner Group). Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for enabling Wagner Group security operations and Wagner Group-linked illicit mining endeavors in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The US Treasury is targeting four entities associated with OFAC-designated Rayan Roshd Afzar Company (RRA) that have procured critical parts for Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program. Additionally, OFAC is targeting an Iranian executive of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), a subsidiary of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics that oversees UAV manufacturers Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company and Qods Aviation Industries.

A senior Treasury Department official called for European allies to line up in applying pressure to Beijing to cease supporting the Kremlin's war efforts.     Citing the Russian econmy's "war footing," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said "this war is not just an existential threat to Ukraine, but to Europe and our national security."

Twelve GOP lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen calling on the Office of Foreign Assets Control and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to investigate six People's Republic of China (PRC) companies, including two of the largest oil companies in the PRC. .The apparent intent is to discourage US investors from owning shares in the firms, several of which are included in East Asian Stock Indexes.

April's announced "enhanced" enforcement of small package imports threatens to bring certain e-commerce activities to a standstill. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reportedly inspecting every single ecommerce shipment coming from mainland China by air freight.

A New Jersey-based airline exceutive pled guilty to participating in a money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds of heathcare fraud channeled through his employer's bank account.

China has announced export controls on certain equipment, software and technologies in key sectors ranging from aerospace to shipbuilding that matter to national security. Under the new policy, the controlled export products involve equipment and software in key industries, including aerospace structural components and engine manufacturing, gas turbine engine manufacturing, aerospace surface window-related equipment, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber-related items, according to the notice.

The Council adopted May 30 a package of new anti-money-laundering rules that will protect EU citizens and the EU's financial system against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. With the new package, all rules applying to the private sector will be transferred to a new directly applicable regulation, while a directive will deal with the organisation of national competent authorities fighting against money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).