In addition to federal workers impacted by the current government shutdown, companies who rely on the federal government to support their import/export compliance are also feeling the impact. We thought it might be helpful to provide the status of the various government agencies involved with assisting importers and exporters during this shutdown. Please Note: This...
In recent weeks, we’ve seen significant activity from both the legislative and executive branches that could change the way foreign investment occurs in U.S. companies. These changes could also affect the export control compliance requirements of many companies who are targets of foreign investors. Keep reading for a brief history of CFIUS reviews, and the...
Last week, FLIR Systems, Inc. entered into a Consent Agreement with Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) to settle allegations of violations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). There were 347 alleged violations cited in the Proposed Charging Letter. These violations included 219 counts of unauthorized exports to Foreign-Person employees;...
We field lots of questions about the difference between ITAR and EAR regulations. Particularly with the changes from Export Control Reform in recent years, the lines between these two regulations can easily get blurred. How can you distinguish ITAR vs. EAR? Which regulation applies to your products, data and technology? How are they the same?...
Earlier this month, DDTC published a new Consent Agreement with Bright Lights USA, Inc. of Barrington, New Jersey. This agreement alleges a variety of different ITAR violations, including technical data exports and failure to keep adequate records. Are these problems sufficiently addressed in your company’s export compliance program? As always, it’s important to take note,...
On 20 December 2016, in the Federal District of Connecticut, JIANG YAN, 34, of Shenzhen China was sentenced to time served (12 months imprisonment) for attempting to purchase and export to China without a required export authorization for certain sophisticated integrated circuits used in military satellites and missiles. Additionally, for conspiring to sell counterfeits of...
Yu Long, a Chinese citizen and former employee of the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) pleaded guilty to the export and the attempted export of defense articles from the U.S. in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. The maximum possible sentence Long can serve is 20 years. Long, who was a legal resident in...
While you are trying to figure out where you left off before Christmas, keep in mind that a new Harmonized Tariff Schedule is now in effect for 2017. The new HTS is available online. For those of you still relying on that paper copy, it is also available from the Government Publishing Office. The updated...
In July 2016, the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) announced that it had re-initiated its Company Visit Program for companies engaged in ITAR-controlled work. The stated objectives of this program are: Advance DDTC’s understanding of how different companies establish and maintain an overall defense trade control program to fit the...
Effective October 14, 2016, BIS has amended the Export Administration Regulations to allow for electronic submission of reporting requests U.S. persons receive to take action in furtherance or in support of an unsanctioned foreign boycott. Prior to this, reports were only permitted to be submitted by mail using BIS 621-P or BIS 6051-P. These can...