On September 19, 2020, the US State Department issued a press release announcing the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran pursuant to the snapback process under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the resolution that essentially terminated all UN sanctions on Iran pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”). At the same time, the international community has rejected this unilateral US attempt to snapback UN sanctions. To implement the snapback of UN sanctions, on September…
On September 15, 2020, the Treasury Department published the anticipated final rule modifying the scope of the critical technology filing requirement under the regulations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”). The final rule tracks the proposed rule issued on May 21, 2020 in aligning more closely filing requirements for foreign investments with export licensing requirements. Effective October 15, 2020, filings will be mandatory for foreign investments in US critical technology…
On September 1, 2020, the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued a joint advisory on North Korea’s ballistic missile procurement activities (“Advisory”). The Advisory, among other things, identifies key participants of North Korea’s ballistic missile procurement and their deceptive tactics and key items, including materials and equipment,…
On August 27, 2020 the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published a long-awaited advance notice of proposed rulemaking (“ANPRM”) seeking public comment on criteria for identifying “foundational technologies” that are essential to US national security with a view to imposing export controls on such uncontrolled technologies. BIS will use the public comments during the interagency process aimed at developing new export controls on foundational technologies. After the interagency process is finalized, BIS will…