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: OFAC also issued one new SSR FAQ…
On February 17, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) in the US Commerce Department announced that it is expediting the processing of export license applications for items needed to aid survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria through NGOs. While most items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) do not require licenses for export to Türkiye, Syria is subject to comprehensive US export controls and, as such, items subject to the EAR…
On February 9, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued Syria General License 23, “Authorizing Transactions Related to Earthquake Relief Efforts in Syria.” General License 23 authorizes transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Syria that would otherwise be prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (“SySR”) through 12:01 p.m. eastern daylight time, August 8, 2023. General License 23 does not authorize importation of petroleum or petroleum products of…
Just before the holidays, President Biden signed two bills passed in the final days of the last Congress that contain a number of provisions with implications for sanctions, export controls, and supply chain restrictions: On December 23, 2022, President Biden signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263). The measure includes a number of provisions relating to US export controls, sanctions, and related subjects, including additional sanctions targeting…