Deemed export laws are complicated. They can be confusing for all people – even Elon Musk. The serial entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX recently tweeted an (inaccurate) interpretation of U.S. export controls laws. This stems from the Department of Justice suing SpaceX for alleged discriminatory hiring practices. Musk tweeted: US law requires at least a…
In the 2008 comedy Burn After Reading, Brad Pitt and Francis McDormand play two clueless gym employees who try (and fail) to make money selling government secrets. And while bribery, espionage and money laundering sound like all the good plot points for any spy comedy, you don’t expect to find them in the real world…
On July 26th, U.S. government agencies published a “tri-seal note” describing the Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) policies applicable to export controls. This is the second joint document issued by three key U.S. regulators – the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and…
Do you think export control laws take precedence over employment laws? Think again. Recently, two settlement agreements between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. companies highlight the complicated scenarios faced by many HR departments today. Let’s take a closer look at General Motors and American CyberSystems Inc. More importantly, let’s find out what can…
Export compliance can sometimes feel like a jigsaw puzzle that keeps adding pieces faster than you can find out where they go. In recent years, these regulations continue to change and become more complex. (Just count the pages in the Federal Register notices. They keep piling up!) Now more than ever, it’s crucial to understand…
In the Chinese zodiac, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit symbolizes many different attributes, including cautiousness and self-protection. During a recent gathering of trade compliance professionals, I heard someone mention that 2023 is “the year of export enforcement.” I must say that I agree. These two types of “years” seem to fit…
“We don’t export anything.” This is something we hear all the time. Sometimes, it’s followed by: “Well, we do ship stuff to Canada. Does that count?” (Pro Tip: Yes, it counts.) But other times, our clients really don’t put something in a box and send it to a foreign country. Yet, they still need help….
It just got more expensive to violate U.S. import/export regulations. In recent weeks, the various governmental agencies who administer and enforce these regulations have released updated penalty amounts. The main culprit? Everyone’s favorite “I” word – inflation! Here’s a rundown of the new changes. Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC) DDTC is the Department of…
It isn’t very often that we get to tell you the government has made your life easier, but today is that day! Starting on August 1st, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued two Open General Licenses (OGLs) as a pilot program. DDTC implemented the program in order to further its mission of ensuring…
Remember the postcard tax return? It’s been touted by various government officials since 1950. The idea is simple (and beautiful): What if you could file your taxes on a simple, easy-to-use postcard? Just imagine all the hours you could save! Or how about Form 1040EZ? The name itself underscores the simplicity. That is, until you…