On December 15, 2020, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a request for comments and notice of public hearing [Docket Number USTR-2020-0041] for its 2021 review to identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property (IP) rights or deny fair and equitable market access to US persons who rely on IP protection. Based on this review, the USTR determines which, if any, of these countries to identify as Priority Foreign Countries. USTR requests written comments that identify acts, policies, or practices that may form the basis of a country’s identification as a Priority Foreign Country or placement on the Priority Watch List or Watch List.

See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-15/pdf/2020-27515.pdf

On December 14, 2020, the US Government announced Sudan’s removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (the “SST List”).  This rescission of Sudan as an SST follows an agreement in October for Sudan to be removed from the list and the lapse of a 45 day congressional notification period.

See https://www.state.gov/sudans-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-designation-rescinded/

On December 3, 2020, the Department of Defense announced its third list of “Communist Chinese military companies” operating in the United States, pursuant to Section 1237 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, as amended (“Section 1237”).  The practical impact of the announcement is that these four companies become subject to Executive Order 13959, which restricts US investment in these companies.

See https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2434513/dod-releases-list-of-additional-companies-in-accordance-with-section-1237-of-fy/utm_campaign/Marketing_Cloud/utm_medium/email/?utm_source=Washington+Update+12.4.2020&%20utm_content=https%3a%2f%2fwww.defense.gov%2fNewsroom%2fReleases%2fRelease%2fArticle%2f2434513%2fdod-releases-list-of-additional-companies-in-accordance-with-section-1237-of-fy%2f

On December 2, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade directed the issuance of a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against cotton products originating from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC).in China based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor, including convict labor. The WRO applies to all cotton and cotton products produced by the XPCC and its subordinate and affiliated entities as well as any products that are made in whole or in part with or derived from that cotton, such as apparel, garments, and textiles.

See https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-issues-detention-order-cotton-products-made-xinjiang-production

On November 17, 2020, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) amended General License (“GL”) 8F and re-issued it as General License 8G.  GL 8G extends the validity period of certain limited maintenance and wind-down transactions and activities involving Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (“PdVSA”) until June 3, 2021.