Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Washington
The U.S. Senate backed legislation on Thursday that would impose mandatory sanctions on individuals or companies that back efforts by China to restrict Hong Kong’s autonomy, as the government in Beijing moves to implement a new security law for the city.The “Hong Kong Autonomy Act” passed by unanimous consent. To become law, it must also pass the House of Representatives and be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, a lead sponsor, said in the Senate the legislation would send a clear message to Beijing that there would be consequences if it acts to undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy.
“This could be our last opportunity to stay Beijing’s hand before it destroys what is left of freedom in the city,” said Republican Senator Josh Hawley, another sponsor.
The bill almost passed earlier this month, Van Hollen said, but was blocked by Republican Senator Kevin Cramer — who had co-sponsored it — at the request of the Trump administration, which made a late request for technical corrections.
The delay underscored how complicated it can be to pass legislation pushing back on China, as the administration pursues a trade deal with Beijing and the two powerful countries grapple for international influence and clash over human rights.
US-China relations have reached their lowest point in years since the coronavirus pandemic, which began in China, hit the United States hard.
US imposes sanctions on companies operating in Iran’s metals sector
The United States on Thursday blacklisted four steel, aluminum and iron companies operating in Iran’s metals sector, as well as sales agents of Iran’s largest steel manufacturer it said generate tens of millions of dollars for Tehran’s metals industry.
The Treasury Department said in a statement it imposed sanctions on Tara Steel Trading GmbH, a Germany-based subsidiary of Mobarakeh Steel Co, three United Arab Emirates-based sales agents majority owned by the steel company, and Iran-based Metil Steel.
The Treasury said the sales agents “generated tens of millions of dollars annually from the foreign sale of Mobarakeh Steel Company products, providing significant contributions to the billions of dollars generated overall by Iran’s steel, aluminum, copper, and iron sectors.”
Mobarakeh Steel Co is the largest flat steel producer in the Middle East and North Africa and accounts for 1% of Iran’s gross domestic product, the Treasury said. It has been designated by the United States under different authorities, including counterterrorism and for operating in Iran’s metal sector.
Thursday’s action also blacklisted three large aluminum, steel and iron producers in Iran, accusing them of contributing to billions of dollars generated overall by sales and export of Iranian metals.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by the companies and generally prohibit Americans from dealing with them.
Thursday’s actions did not appear related to a Reuters report published on Wednesday disclosing Iran’s production of aluminum powder for use in missiles.
“The Iranian regime continues to use profits from metals manufacturers and foreign sales agents to fund destabilizing behavior around the world,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have spiked since Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal struck by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and began reimposing sanctions that had been eased under the accord.
