The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is proposing to amend its labeling and recordkeeping regulations to tighten requirements for certain grape wines exempt from labeling approval. Under the agency’s proposed rule (here), grape wines with an alcohol content higher than 7 percent but exempt from labeling approval would still have to comply with TTB standards for labeling of varietal (grape type) designations, type designations of varietal significance, vintage dates and appellations of origin. The change would only apply to grape wines, not fruit or agricultural wines. Comments are due Aug. 22.

China has indicated a readiness to take on more responsibility and contribute more resources to address global trade challenges and can show leadership by pushing for conclusion of the World Trade Organization Environmental Goods Agreement before September’s G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said June 16 during a speech (here). Past Chinese leadership “recognized the potent role that foreign trade and foreign investment could play in transforming China’s economy,” Lew said. “Recently, however, there is a growing sense among foreign businesses that they may no longer be welcome as new regulations and legal changes appear to specifically disadvantage foreign business.” The Chinese government made several commitments to help reduce global steel overcapacity during last week’s U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue in Beijing (see 1606080041).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued one general license under “Kingpin Act/Honduras” entities and three general licenses under “Kingpin Act/Panama” on June 10, OFAC said (here). General License 1B (here) will allow certain transactions and activities to liquidate and “wind down” Honduran Banco Continental, while General licenses 4B (here), 5A (here) and 6A (here) relax restrictions on previously barred transactions with certain designees. 4B will supersede 4A and authorize transactions involving shipment orders placed before May 5, 2016, with the Kingpin Act-designated Soho Mall Panama and “associated complex,” the general license said. General License 5A supersedes General License 5, and permits exportation and re-exportation of software, hardware and related services -- among other activities -- that are necessary for a Panamanian Government examination of the viability of Balboa Bank & Trust, following the government’s seizure of the institution. Finally, General License 6A authorizes similar goods exports to Panama that are necessary to conduct a government investigation of Balboa Securities’ inventory of assets and liability. OFAC has also updated its four frequently questions asked regarding “Counter Narcotics Sanctions,” the agency said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added three individuals (here) and removed one entity (here) from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added three individuals to its Specially Designated Nationals list, under Burundi Sanctions designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added six entities to, and deleted 10 entities from its Specially Designated Nationals list under Burma designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is updating its Burma general licenses to continue the authorization of transactions related to trade of goods, technology, or non-financial services; remove the general license requirements for transactions with two financial institutions; and allow some transactions that would enable the “maintenance” of U.S. nationals living in the country, OFAC said (here). The agency has removed Myanma Economic Bank (MEB) and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB) from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), and transactions with those entities no longer require a general license, OFAC said. Additionally, OFAC is adding Innwa Bank and Myawaddy Bank to the general license in Section 537.531 of the Burmese Sanctions Regulations, authorizing most transactions with the institutions.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added one individual to its Specially Designated Nationals list under Libya designations, OFAC said (here). Separately, the agency published General License 4A (here), “Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Individuals or Entities Located in the Panamanian Mall and Associated Complex, Soho Panama, S.A. (a.k.a. Soho Mall Panama),” General License 5 (here), “Authorizing Certain Transactions and Activities Related to the Panamanian Seizure of Balboa Bank & Trust,” and General License 6 (here), “Authorizing Certain Transactions and Activities Related to the Intervention by the Superintendency of Securities Markets of Panama in Balboa Securities, Corp.” OFAC has also updated its list of Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to Panama (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added one individual and made several changes to entities and individuals previously sanctioned under the Kingpin Act from the Specially Designated Nationals list, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added eight individuals and 69 entities to its Specially Designated Nationals list, under Kingpin Act designations, OFAC said (here).