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Senators ask Treasury for details on sanctions designations; secretary says he will follow up
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Summary
Committee members pressed Treasury Secretary Bessent on sanctions enforcement against Russia and Chinese firms aiding Russia; Bessent said he would provide numbers and details after the hearing and described recent actions such as designations tied to Iranian oil and shadow fleets.
Senators on the appropriations subcommittee pressed Treasury Secretary Bessent about enforcement of sanctions on Russia and whether the administration had designated Chinese firms that provide material support to Russian defense‑related activity.
The chair and senators asked how many new Russian entities Treasury had designated since January; Bessent did not provide a number during the hearing and said he would "get back to you with that number." When asked how many entities worldwide had been sanctioned for doing business with Russian companies in ways that undermine U.S. export controls, Bessent again said he would provide that information after the hearing.
Bessent described targeted measures Treasury has taken, including sanctions on Chinese "teapot refineries" for receiving Iranian oil and work on shadow fleets that help evade sanctions, and said the department has pursued designations and enforcement actions related to evasion. He said the department chose not to target Chinese government‑owned refineries in the initial steps and that Treasury has been working to identify owners with assets in the U.S. and Western Europe.
Senators asked for a written follow‑up and count of recent designations; Bessent said he would provide those figures to the subcommittee.
