The U.K.’s Department for International Trade is accepting applications to join its Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the agency said this week. Members of the group, composed of industry representatives, will advise the government on trade policy, trade negotiations and other trade-related matters.

A U.N. aviation organization last week called on Russia to “immediately cease its infractions of international aviation rules,” including its attempts to acquire aircraft parts in violation of western sanctions. The European Commission applauded the statement from the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization, which informed its 193 member states about “Russia's blatant non-respect of crucial international aviation law.” EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said the ICAO’s comments point "to another example of Russia's blatant disregard of international rules and standards, putting the lives of people at risk, including Russian citizens.” The EU and others have placed export restrictions on a range of items and services in the aviation sector, and the U.S. has issued several temporary denial orders against Russian airlines for violating U.S. export controls (see 2208020018).

The EU dropped an entry from its North Korea sanctions regime, in a July 28 decision from the European Council. Pak Chun Il, the former North Korean ambassador to Egypt, was de-listed from the sanctions list following his death, the EuropeanSanctions blog reported. He was originally listed in November 2016. The council also updated the statement of reasons for 17 individuals and one entity in the decision, and added new identifying information for 59 individuals and five entities.

The EU dropped nine individuals from its Guinea-Bissau sanctions regime, in a July 28 move by the European Council. The individuals are Gen. Augusto Mario Co, Gen. Saya Braia Na Nhapka, Col. Tomas Djassi, Cranha Danfa, Col. Celestino de Carvalho, Tcham Na Man, Maj. Samuel Fernandes, Cmdr. Agostinho Sousa Cordeiro and Lt. Lassana Camara. The council also amended the title of the sanctions regime to include the phrase "concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guinea-Bissau."

The U.K. extended a General License permitting the winding down of positions involving Rosbank for another two months, until Sept. 30, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said. The license was originally published in June and permits an individual or entity to wind down any transactions to which they are a party involving Rosbank or one of its subsidiaries, including closing out any positions, repaying loans, withdrawing deposits and closing accounts.

The Guangzhou Automobile Group -- the Chinese state-owned partner of Stellantis -- accused the European auto giant of disrespecting Chinese customers by shutting down its only Jeep factory in China. In announcing the shutdown, Stellantis cited local political interference in China and worries that political tensions could result in sanctions on the carmaker (see 2207280018). In a statement, GAC Group, as Guangzhou is known, said its joint venture with Stellantis “has not been able to establish a mutually trustworthy operating mechanism adapted to the highly competitive environment in China in order to turn the adverse situation of continuous losses in recent years,” Bloomberg reported July 29. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the reasons for leaving China were steeped in "broken trust" with the GAC Group along with Chinese policy, Bloomberg said.

The EU General Court in a July 27 judgment rejected RT France's bid to annul sanctions levied against it in March. The restrictions bar EU operators from broadcasting and facilitating the broadcast of RT France and suspend any broadcasting license or arrangement with the media outlet. The court ruled that the European Council didn't violate the law in finding that RT France was controlled by the Russian government and issues statements backing the war in Ukraine. Further, the court dismissed the media company's challenge to the council's reasons for imposing the sanctions, the fairness of the procedures used to make the listing and the arguments that the sanctions were a disproportionate restriction on RT France's right to freedom of expression.

The U.K. issued an order halting the acquisition of intellectual property related to vision sensing technology by Chinese company Beijing Infinite Vision Technology Co., British business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said, Reuters reported. The order prevents Beijing Infinite from buying the IP from the University of Manchester, which would have allowed the company to test, make and sell licensed products. The order was issued under the National Security and Investment Act. "There is potential that the technology could be used to build defence or technological capabilities which may present national security risk to the United Kingdom," the order said.

The European Commission updated its Russian sanctions frequently asked questions pages, providing guidance on gold imports, aviation, asset freezes and oil reporting obligations. The gold imports FAQs cover why the EU introduced the import ban and what it covers, and whether processed gold, including gold jewelry, is included in the ban and if there are exceptions. The aviation FAQs include whether measures affect a non-Russian operator that operates a Russian registered aircraft, or if the ban concerns private flights owned or rented by Russian citizens or EU or third-country registered aircraft rented by Russian citizens.

The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated its general financial sanctions guidance, laying out new guidelines on licensing time frames. OFSI said it no longer seeks to engage with license applications within four weeks, aiming to review all new applications "as soon as practicable." The agency said it prioritizes cases at times of high demand and those involving issues of "personal basic needs and/or wider humanitarian issues at stake which are of material impact or urgency, or which are deemed to be of particular strategic, economic or administrative importance." OFSI said parties will get a case reference number and an acknowledgment if their case has been selected for review but won't provide regular updates during the review given the high volume of applications.