Last month, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published updated guidance materials for freight forwarders and exporters and updated their “Don’t Let This Happen to You” guidance document. BIS also published a new resource to help identify boycott-related requests. Updated Guidance BIS issued updated guidance for freight forwarders and exporters who use freight forwarders to help them ensure compliance with US export controls and regulatory requirements. The guidance outlines compliance…
On February 16, 2024, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued a Compliance Communiqué containing Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian-Related Assistance and Critical Commodities to the Yemeni People (“Guidance”). The Guidance follows the January 17, 2024 announcement of the redesignation of Ansarallah (or Ansar Allah), commonly known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (“SDGT”) , which became effective on February 16, 2024. The same day,…
In a new rule announced on January 23, 2024, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) has (i) expanded the scope of the Russian and Belarusian Industry Sector Sanctions under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”); (ii) revised restrictions aimed at preventing Iran from supplying unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) (i.e., drones) to Russia; (iii) expanding the scope of items for which there is no de minimis level of certain US-origin items incorporated…
On December 22, 2023, the Biden Administration issued a new Executive Order (“EO”) “Taking Additional Steps with Respect to the Russian Federation’s Harmful Activities” (the “December 22 EO”) amending EO 14024 of April 15, 2021 (“Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation”) and EO 14068 of March 11, 2022 (“Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression”). According to a…