On June 27, 2022, President Biden and the other G7 leaders issued a statement on support for Ukraine (“G7 Statement”), in which they vowed to sustain and intensify their coordinated sanctions measures in response to Russia’s war of aggression. The corresponding White House Announcement outlines the actions the Biden Administration planned to take in coordination with the G7, including additional sanctions measures. The following day, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”)…
On May 16, 2022, the Biden administration announced the relaxing of certain limited Cuban sanctions and other regulatory changes to expand communication, travel, and commerce between the United States and Cuba. The related fact sheet can be found here. The US State Department outlined four changes to Cuba policy in the announcement: Facilitate family reunification: The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program will be reinstated and capacity for consular services and visa processing will continue to…
On February 2, 2022, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued seven new Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) (FAQs 957 through 963) and on February 25, 2022, issued General License 20, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Afghanistan or Governing Institutions in Afghanistan” (“GL 20”) to expand authorizations for commercial and financial transactions in Afghanistan and seven new FAQs (FAQs 991 through 997). OFAC also made updates to FAQs to account for the new…
On April 8, 2022, in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, which has been substantially enabled by Belarus, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued a final rule (“Final Rule”) expanding license requirements for Russia and Belarus under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) to all items on the Commerce Control List (“CCL”). The Final Rule also removes license exception eligibility for aircraft registered in, owned or controlled by, or under charter or…