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In a striking move, the United States took yet another step back from Ukraine and its allies by abstaining from a key vote at the International Labour Organization (ILO). This is the second such abstention in Geneva, following a similar move at the World Trade Organization last month. At the UN General Assembly, the US went even further, voting with North Korea and other Russian allies against a western-backed resolution denouncing the invasion and tabling a more conciliatory text, raising concerns that Ukraine may no longer rely on the US as a leading force to plead its cause at multilateral bodies.
The United States has filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, tail number T7-ESPRT, used by Nicolás Maduro Moros and his regime in violation of U.S. sanctions and export laws. The aircraft was seized last year in the Dominican Republic at the request of the U.S.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select China Committee has written Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik asking for a briefing on exxport controls on access to American universities' supercomputing resources.
The Department of State is seeking public comment and submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding the proposed collection of information related to Form DSP-85. "Application/License for Permanent/Temporary Export or Temporary Import of Classified Defense Articles and Related Classified Technical Data."
March 13 the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Kessler as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security by a mostly party-line vote of 54 to 45. Upon taking office, Kessler has pledged to review and reform BIS operations, particularly its role in preventing China and other adversaries from accessing advanced U.S. technologies. He has expressed skepticism about the AI Diffusion Rule, questioning its effectiveness in addressing national security risks and signaling his intent to revisit its implementation.
With little fanfare, the Secretary fo State has assumed authority over a broad swath of trade and immigration policy, potentially setting up even more confusion and opacity as the new adminstration reshapes the federal government.
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