The main US export controls regulator continues to take steps to demonstrate its focus on enforcement. Specifically, the US Department of Commerceās Bureau of Industry and Security (āBISā) issued a final rule (the “Rule”) on September 16, 2024, effective immediately, to amend the provisions in its regulations focused on the voluntary self-disclosure (“VSD”) process. Many of the changes in the Rule reflect guidance previously issued by BIS in individual memoranda (available here), which are now…
On September 3, 2024, the US Department of Stateās Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (āDDTCā) issued revised Guidance for U.S. Persons Abroad (āUSPABsā) Authorization Requests (āUSPAB Guidanceā) and updated FAQs on Defense Services and USPABs. Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (āITARā), all USPABs need DDTC authorization before they can furnish ITAR-controlled defense services to any foreign person, including USPABsā non-US employers. The principal changes to the USPAB Guidance are as follows:
As risks and complexities for sanctions investigations have grown, so has the number of regulators and enforcement agencies bringing enforcement actions, and not just in the United States. Enforcement agencies around the world are becoming more active, with a focus on enforcing sanctions and export controls targeting Russia since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. There has been a particular uptick in public enforcement of EU sanctions targeting Russia by various EU Member States in…
On July 29, 2024, the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) issued a proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) that would revise the definition of “defense service” and the scope of related controls in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). The Proposed Rule was issued following a review by DDTC that identified certain military, cyber, and intelligence services furnished to foreign persons that are not currently controlled or are controlled but for…