The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued an interim final rule (the “IFR”) on September 6, 2024 that imposes new “plurilateral” worldwide licensing controls on certain advanced technologies, including certain quantum, semiconductor-related and additive manufacturing items, under new and amended ECCNs in the Export Administration Regulations (the “EAR”), introduces a new license exception for certain items to allied countries implementing equivalent controls, adds two new general licenses for certain Gate…
On April 18, 2024, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (“FCDO”) announced a coordinated sanctions package targeting Iran. In the US, OFAC added 16 individuals and 10 entities to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) and the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) also expanded the scope of Foreign Direct Product (“FDP”) rules for foreign-produced items…
On March 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced more restrictive export controls on Nicaragua stated to be in response to the Nicaraguan Government’s human rights abuses, attacks on civil society, and increased cooperation with Russia. The DDTC and BIS press releases are available here and here. DDTC: New ITAR Export Controls The State Department announced…
On December 7, 2023, Chairman Michael McCaul of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives released a 90-Day Review Report (the “Report”) of the US Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”), the agency tasked with administering the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R Parts 730–774, the “EAR”) under the US Commerce Department. Chairman McCaul previously highlighted his plans for greater oversight of BIS at an October 2022 Atlantic Council event during which he stated…