Over the past month, we’ve been inundated with calls and emails from people trying to export defense items to Ukraine. Mostly firearms, ammunition and body armor. These transactions must be looked at closely to avoid any violation of U.S. export control laws and regulations.
February 2022 saw the U.S. and our allies make approximately 1,000 additions and changes to its sanctions and export control policies – a truly unprecedented number. These measures are designed to “impose severe economic costs that will have both immediate and long-term effects on the Russian economy and financial system.” Are they working? And what are the latest updates for U.S. companies trying to comply?
Last month, the Department of Justice announced a guilty plea agreement with Saber Fakih, 46, a UK citizen, for attempting to illegally export highly sensitive equipment to Iran. The details of this case include some hefty evidence of Mr. Fakih’s guilt.
Today, the world watches as some hard lessons from the Cold War turn again and unfold. With every indication that Russia will invade Ukraine, and some reports that it has already done so, the United States and its allies are responding with what Vice President Harris described as “some of the greatest sanctions, if not the strongest” in U.S. history. This article provides a rundown of what we know today, and what may be on the horizon if events continue to escalate.
Do you remember when President Obama “lifted” the Cuba sanctions? It seems like only yesterday. Problem is, it never actually happened. Recently, Airbnb learned this lesson the hard way. Keep reading for all the details, including assassination plots, secret Vatican meetings and a brief history of “the most comprehensive U.S. economic sanctions regime against any country in the world.”
The European Union (EU) has been busy at the end of 2021 and into early 2022 in the area of export controls. New laws, interpretations, etc. have occurred. Here are some highlights.
Every January, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Schedule B are modified, but this year is different. On January 1, 2022, the 7th edition of the HTS was “released.” It is still marked as ‘preliminary’ with the changes being effective at the end of January.
On December 9th, the US government added Cambodia to the naughty list by implementing stricter controls amid the country’s continued human rights abuses, growing corruption, and the deepening of Chinese military influence there. Both the Department of State and the Department of Commerce published new rules which place significantly stricter restrictions on Cambodia.
Last month, a small Israeli company named NSO Group found itself in the crosshairs of Apple, Inc. What’s at stake is an interesting story that extends into the world of privacy, international espionage and export controls.
On November 21, 2021, DDTC published seventeen new FAQs concerning a variety of compliance topics, more specifically on debarment, export controls and voluntary disclosures. While the FAQs are an effort to clarify previously provided information, DDTC attempts to make clearer the rationale behind the requirements for disclosures and debarment.