Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week, in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Bureau of Industry and Security needs more resources to address the surge in export license applications that’s expected if its new 50% rule comes back into effect with no changes, industry groups said, adding that otherwise, the agency risks severely delaying or pausing large volumes of trade.
The EU and South Africa on Nov. 20 signed the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, which builds on the EU-South Africa Strategic Partnership and the Economic Partnership Agreement, the European Commission announced. The partnership will center on "strategic sectors" such as renewable energy, electricity transmission, clean fuels, raw materials value chains, and climate mitigation and adaptation technologies. The agreement will mobilize public and private financing, address trade and investment barriers, ensure "transparent access to public procurement" and facilitate investments, the commission said.
The High Court of Singapore will consider whether an arbitral award can be enforced in Singapore in light of U.S. sanctions on the party slated to receive the award. Earlier this month, Judge Thomas Bathurst declined to first and separately consider whether the enforcement of the award is contrary to Singapore's public policy due to the sanctions, opting instead to consider that question along with the other elements of the arbitral dispute.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on Nov. 21 suspended the export privileges of nine people and one company after they were convicted of export-related offenses, including illegal shipments involving guns, ammunition, blastic vests and more. The suspensions took effect from the date of their convictions.
The House voted 217-188 on Nov. 20 to pass a bill that would eliminate a requirement that the Energy Department authorize liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, leaving the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole authority for the approval process.
The U.K. on Nov. 24 amended one entry under its cyber sanctions list. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated the entry for Andrei Kozlov, an employee of sanctioned entity Media Land, to add his date of birth, place of birth and nationality. Kozlov is now listed as a Russian national.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 24 updated its sanctions entry for Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles to reflect the group's recent designation by the State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (see 2511210003). OFAC sanctioned the group in July (see 2507270002).
President Donald Trump on Nov. 24 ordered the State Department, Treasury Department and other agencies to study whether certain chapters or subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood should be labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization or Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The agencies must submit a report with their findings to the president within 30 days, and they must "take action within 45 days after the report to designate chapters as FTOs and SDGTs if appropriate," the White House said in a fact sheet.
The Drug Enforcement Administration on Nov. 17 submitted a proposed rule for interagency review that would extend the maximum time allowed for reexports of controlled substances outside the European Economic Area, which is currently 180 days from the date of the original release from CBP. The change would "increase the flexibility for reexportation of controlled substances."