On December 9, 2021, the US Departments of State and Commerce amended their regulations to strengthen US export controls targeting Cambodia. According to the Federal Register notices announcing these final rules, these enhanced export control measures were adopted in response to the expanded Chinese military presence in Cambodia, as well as the corruption and human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Cambodian Government. This action builds on various public statements from the US Government this…
On October 26, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (“ANPRM”) seeking public comments concerning the identification of certain neuro “brain-computer interface” (BCI) technology as an emerging technology and the potential imposition of export controls on such technology. Comments are due no later than December 10, 2021. BCI technology was identified by BIS back in a November 2018 ANPRM as part of a representative…
On June 9, 2021, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued a final rule, effective June 8, amending the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) to reflect the formal termination by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) of its participation in the Arab League Boycott of Israel (the “Amendment”). This means that certain requests for information, action or agreement from the UAE will no longer be presumed to be boycott-related if made after…
On June 17, 2021, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued three pandemic-related general licenses (“GLs”) authorizing certain transactions and activities through June 16, 2022, involving Syria, Venezuela, Iran, or certain blocked entities in these countries. The new GLs are Syria General License No. 21, Venezuela General License No. 39, and Iran General License N, and they authorize certain transactions and activities related to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of COVID-19…