In less than two weeks, we have seen Syria go from one of the most heavily sanctioned countries on the planet to a country well on the road to establishing normal trade relations with the Western world. The latest flurry of developments started on May 13, 2025, when President Trump caught much of the world by surprise when he said in a speech in Riyadh: “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria…
Earlier this month, as reported on our blog, the Turkish Ministry of Trade announced a complete export and import ban targeting Israel. This week, the Office of Antiboycott Compliance in the Bureau of Industry and Security at the US Commerce Department published an “Antiboycott Advisory on Türkiye”. The core of the Advisory states that US companies operating in Türkiye “are cautioned to be alert to their receipt of any requests to refrain from importing or…
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 October 6, 2022, the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement issued a policy aimed at enhancing enforcement of the antiboycott rules administered by the US Department of Commerce (“Commerce”). The following day a final rule came into effect updating Commerce’s guidance on charging and penalty determinations related to violations of the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (the “EAR”). The changes are intended to bring penalty determinations in line with Commerce’s current view of…