It isn’t front and center in the news, but it seems everybody thinks Cuba is the next big thing, and it's been the next big thing for a long time.  Our readers would like to hear what you suggest,  to Industry and the academic community,  about how to engage and how to stay out of trouble in the process

A year ago, a breakthrough was expected in the U.S.-Cuba economic relationship when the Biden administration approved the first OFAC license allowing direct investment in and direct financing to a privately-owned Cuban company. However, no funds have been delivered, due to a lack of regulatory framework by the Cuban government, and conviction in Washington is lacking.

In their Joint Statment, members of the US - EU Trade and Technology Council expressed support for the ongoing sanctions activities, export and investment controls:

Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) voted in favor of policy proposals designed to combat the ongoing Uyghur genocide and enhance Taiwan's deterrence. The Wednesday adoption of these policy proposals comes on the heels of a March hearing featuring a survivor and witness to the ongoing Uyghur genocide by the CCP. The committee also held an April wargame highlighting the severe consequences of a deterrence failure in the Indo-Pacific.

The Subcommittee on Trade of the House Ways and Means Committee met Thursday to begin the “first review of customs operations and regulation in 30 years,” though mostly to address the ongoing debate surrounding de minimis, the “Amazon Loophole” where low value imports receive duty free treatment.

The time has come to “take off the golden blindfolds and open our eyes to the risks in China,” the head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party declared at an evening hearing May 17. Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc) said that while a total economic decoupling from China is not possible, his panel will come up with policy recommendations for a “strategic derisking.”

In a flurry of activity by the recently established Disruptive Technology Strike Force, the Justice Department has publicized the indictment of individuals in five distinct cases, originating from five separate U.S. Attorney's offices. This marks the first enforcement actions taken by the Strike Force since its inception.

The United States, backed by the G7 and other international allies, is ramping up worldwide sanctions and restrictive economic measures to further hinder Russia's warfighting capabilities. Commerce, Treasury and the State Department issued separate and joint actions and rules reaching from icebreakers to rubber, with a primary focus on Russia's extractive and weaponry industries.

The saga of export enforcement actions against Iran’s first private airline continues with the May 5 renewal of the temporary denial order (TDO) against Mahan Airways and associated persons first issued in March 2008.     As the Russian commercial fleet seeks maintenance and repair resources for its western fleet, Mahan's expertise in dodging sanctions is highly sought.

The former Chair of Harvard University's Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, was sentenced in federal court in Boston today for lying to federal authorities about his affiliation with China's Thousand Talents Program and Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), as well as failing to report income he received from WUT.

As global supply chains become increasingly complex, businesses face significant challenges in ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and industry standards. Non-compliance can lead to legal penalties, financial losses, and reputational damage, making supply chain compliance risk mitigation crucial.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests comments from the public on draft Research Security Programs Standard Requirement developed in response to National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 on National Security Strategy for United States Government-Supported Research and Development (R&D).

Chinese "fast fashion" platforms like Shein and Temu are expanding rapidly in the United States, raising concerns about exploitation of trade loopholes, sourcing relationships, product safety, and forced labor. A report released by the US China Economic Security Review Commission details the concerns, highlighting the merchants’ rapid growth, policy concerns, and reccomendations.

The global transition to a green economy faces a serious challenge as the supply of critical raw materials struggles to keep pace with growing demand, warns a new policy paper from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report, Raw Materials for the Green Transition: Production, International Trade and Export Restrictions, emphasizes the need for a substantial increase in production and international trade of these materials in order to meet net zero CO2 emissions targets.

Microsoft has agreed to pay $3.3 million to settle potential civil liability relating to exporting services or software to comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions and Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) in violation of OFAC's Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Ukraine-/Russia-Related sanctions programs.

The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division has updated its guidelines for evaluating corporate compliance programs, which prosecutors use to determine whether to bring charges against a company and negotiate plea or other agreements. The guidelines include factors such as the adequacy and effectiveness of a corporation's compliance program at the time of the offense and its remedial efforts to improve the program.

The United States and Japan have struck a trade deal on critical minerals used in the production of electric vehicle batteries.  The agreement is meant to reduce both countries’ dependence on countries like China for critical minerals, senior Administration officials told reporters. The Treasury Department published proposed content rules for the critical minerals content required for eligibility for the electric vehicle tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced a commitment by the United States and more than twenty foreign governments to enhance beneficial ownership transparency.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite clarified the Department's new  Corporate Enforcement Policy at the Global Investigations Review DC Spring Conference, Washington, DC, March 23.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee held a marathon open session Tuesday, with a particular emphasis on the microelectronics supply chain.

Next up, a team from the Strategic Radiation Hardened Electronics Council discussed collaborative efforts across agencies and industry to ensure survivable electronics, terrestrial and in space.