The U.K. on May 8 updated its financial sanctions FAQs to reflect that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office operates an "E-Alert service," in addition to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation's E-Alert service. The FCDO's service provides "updates on designations, important changes, policy changes, and press releases." A subscription to the alerts may be requested here.

The U.K. on May 8 amended one entry under its Russia sanctions regime, updating the listing for Said Mikhailovich Gutseriev. The amended listing now shows that Gutseriev worked as a director of various Russian financial services and energy extractive companies, which operate in "sectors of strategic significance to the Government of Russia."

The European Commission on May 7 extended its antidumping and countervailing duties on cold-rolled stainless steel from Indonesia to cover Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam, the Directorate-General for Trade announced. The commission said the extension of the measures is needed to "ensure the efficacy of the original measures on stainless steel from Indonesia."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Paris this week to discuss trade, Russia’s war against Ukraine and other topics, von der Leyen said in a statement.

The U.K. lowered the antidumping duty rate on exporter Hunan Jewelmoon Ceramics' entries of ceramic tableware and kitchenware to 17.9%, the Department for International Trade announced. The Trade Remedies Authority recommended the lower AD rate after finding that the company didn't export to the EU in the period of investigation, isn't related to another company subject to AD, and exported to the U.K. in the period after the EU period of the investigation. The new duty rate is effective Sept. 20, 2023.

Houston residents Muzzamil Zaidi and Asim Mujtaba Naqvi pleaded guilty last week for their role in a scheme to send money to Iran without permission from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, DOJ announced.

The EU threatened to use its “full spectrum of measures,” including possible sanctions, against Russia for cyberattacks against European infrastructure, according to a statement of EU representatives released May 3 by the Council of the EU. The statement was released after Germany said Russia was behind a cyberattack against various email accounts of the German Social Democratic Party executive.

German automakers don't want the EU to impose trade restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles, Hildegard Muller, president of the German Automotive Industry Association, told Beijing in a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao this week.

The EU and Japan on May 2 wrapped up the fifth EU-Japan High Level Economic Dialogue, announcing an initiative to work more closely on sustainable supply chains, the European Commission said. The two countries noted the need for collaboration on "climate change, energy security, cyber security and stability of supply, based on jointly agreed principles." The dialogue also stressed the importance of making sure the World Trade Organization "is reformed."

The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on May 1 published frequently asked questions regarding its sanctions regimes, which are meant to be "supplementary to, and not a replacement for, OFSI's primary guidance." The page includes 91 FAQs covering general sanctions questions, the restriction on Russia, the Russian oil services ban, Libya, general licensing, definitions and crown dependencies and overseas territories. Forty-four FAQs pertain specifically to the Russia sanctions.