On July 23, 2024, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) in the US Treasury Department announced that it was publishing a notice requiring financial institutions holding Russian sovereign assets to report those assets to OFAC no later than August 2, 2024 or within 10 days of the detection of such assets. This new reporting requirement implements the “Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act” or the “REPO for Ukrainians Act”, which US President…
On June 18, 2024, Baker McKenzie, in partnership with the International Compliance Professionals Association, hosted a virtual fireside chat with Lawrence Scheinert, the Associate Director for Compliance and Enforcement at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) in the US Treasury Department. The webinar attracted 1640 registrations from across industry, with participants raising a wide variety of questions. In the discussion with Baker McKenzie partners, led by Julia Webster (Toronto) with questions from Janet Kim…
On June 5, 2024, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) amended the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (“SSR”), 31 C.F.R. Part 542 and issued and amended frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) related to the SSR. According to a new OFAC FAQ, these changes are aimed, in part, at facilitating humanitarian assistance and internet-based communication services to Syrian civilians. The SSR has been revised as follows: Incorporation into the SSR of Various Statutes…
On June 12, 2024, the US Departments of Treasury and Commerce issued new sanctions and export controls in response to Russia’s continued war in Ukraine. Below we outline key categories of these new and expanded trade measures designed to restrict the flow of support to the Russian military-industrial base. New Sanctions Restrictions The new sanctions issued by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) are directed at Russia’s foundational financial infrastructure…