White House Expected to Extend Russia Oil Sanctions Waiver
The Trump administration is expected to extend its waiver of sanctions on Russian oil this week, according to former Treasury and State Department officials cited by Semafor, a step that could tee up a similar extension for Iranian oil later this month as the White House weighs fuel prices and broader market stability.
Iran Seeks Crypto Payments for Strait-of-Hormuz Tolls after Ceasefire
Iran is seeking to collect transit tolls from oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz in cryptocurrency, a move that could deepen the role of digital assets in the country’s sanctions-hit economy.
Tariff Evasion Schemes Spread as U.S. Duties on Chinese Goods Rise
Companies importing goods from China are increasingly using accounting maneuvers, middlemen, and in some cases apparent fraud to reduce the value of shipments entering the United States and cut the tariffs they owe.
From Chile to China: Criminals Shipped $1bn in Stolen Copper Abroad
Chilean authorities uncovered organized criminal networks that investigators say stole, processed, and shipped copper on a vast scale to Peru and China, exposing a trade worth an estimated 817 billion pesos, or about $917 million, between 2020 and 2025.
China Turned to Small Banks, ‘Teapot’ Refineries to Dodge Iran Sanctions
China has helped Iran blunt the impact of U.S. sanctions over the past five years by buying the bulk of its oil exports and supporting a complex financial and shipping network that has allowed Tehran to keep earning billions of dollars in revenue.
After OFAC Waiver, Asian Nations Increasingly Turn to Russian Oil
Asian countries hit by acute energy disruptions from the Gulf conflict are increasingly turning to Russia for emergency oil supplies after the United States granted a temporary sanctions waiver on Russian crude.
Misinvoicing in Asian Trade Has Doubled Over the Past Decade: Report
Trade misinvoicing is occurring at “massive scale” across Asian supply chains, with discrepancies in reported invoice values reaching a record $1.7 trillion in 2022 across developing Asia.
OFAC Lifts Sanctions on 3 Russian Ships, Raising Questions of Policy Shift
The United States has lifted sanctions on three Russian-flagged commercial vessels, but the Treasury Department says the move does not signal a broader change in Washington’s policy toward Russia.
UK Cargo Theft Is Worsening as Thieves See Low Risks for Big Rewards
Cargo theft in Britain is evolving into a high-yield criminal business that costs the economy about £700 million a year, as organized gangs target truckloads of food, alcohol, electronics, and consumer goods that can be quickly resold through online platforms and grey-market wholesalers.
Hungary Secretly Worked with Russia to Water Down EU Sanctions
Hungary’s foreign minister privately shared sensitive European Union discussions with Russia and worked with Moscow to try to remove sanctioned Russian individuals, banks, and companies from EU blacklists.