The U.S. will no longer impose a presumption of denial policy for export license applications for Sudan but will still limit which export license exceptions can be used for those exports, the Bureau of Industry and Security said in a Jan. 19 guidance. The guidance, issued less than a week after BIS amended Sudan’s status to loosen certain restrictions in the Export Administration Regulations (see 2101140018), also covered how BIS will control exports of aircraft, encrypted telecommunication items and anti-terrorism controlled items.

The European Union published a decision to create a “set of common features” required for end-user certificates for certain defense items. The features will establish a “more uniform approach” for exports of small arms, light weapons and ammunition, the European Council said Jan. 18. The goal of the decision -- which requires certificates to include certain information on the exporter, the end-user, country of final destination and more -- is to “diminish the risk of arms diversion to illicit or unintended users.” The council said this will create a “level playing field and increase clarity for the defence industry and its clients regarding relevant requirements.”

The Census Bureau deleted the country code for Western Sahara, EH, in the Automated Export System, according to a Jan. 19 Census email to industry. Census said questions should be directed to the agency’s Trade Data Collection Branch.

An Indonesian paper product manufacturer agreed to a fine of more than $1.5 million in order to settle charges related to bank fraud involving trade with North Korea, the Justice Department said Jan. 17. The company, PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ), also entered into a settlement agreement with the Treasury Department and was fined more than $1 million by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for violating U.S. sanctions (see 2101140045). The Justice Department said BMJ admitted to the violations and agreed to implement an improved compliance program, as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. OFAC said it planned to credit the penalty money owed by BMJ once the company completes payment of its fine to the Justice Department.

China’s Foreign Ministry imposed retaliatory sanctions against U.S. officials, lawmakers and entities for the State Department’s decision this month to designate Chinese and Hong Kong officials (see 2101150038). China sanctioned U.S. executive branch officials, members of Congress and nongovernmental organizations that “behaved egregiously” on Hong Kong-related issues, a ministry spokesperson said Jan. 18 during a regular agency press conference, according to a transcript it provided. She did not provide names. China urged the U.S. to “stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs.” The move follows Chinese announcements last year of similar retaliatory sanctions against U.S. officials (see 2012100022). The White House didn’t comment.

The State Department sanctioned a Russian entity and a vessel involved in the construction of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 (see 2008110016 and 2007150021). The sanctions target KVT-RUS and the vessel Fortuna, the State Department said Jan. 19. The two were designated under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. State said it will consider “further actions in the near term” to target the pipeline.

The State Department expanded the scope of its sanctions authorities on Iran’s metals sector (see 1905080065) by identifying 15 materials used in the country’s nuclear, military and ballistic missile programs, a Jan. 15 news release said. The agency said people or companies that “knowingly transfer” the materials are now sanctionable under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act. The State Department also continued its sanctions authority targeting Iran’s construction sector after determining that the U.S.-sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still controls the sector.

The State Department released a notice Jan. 19 outlining sanctions against a person and an entity involved in the prevention of a ceasefire in northern Syria. The notice targets Syrian militia commander Saqr Rustom and the Syrian National Defense Forces. The sanctions were effective Nov. 9, 2020.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued four new general licenses and three frequently asked questions to help sustain the flow of humanitarian aid to Yemen, according to a Jan. 19 notice. General License No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11 authorize certain transactions by the U.S. government, certain international organizations and nongovernmental organizations with Ansarallah, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this month (see 2101110015). General License No. 12 authorizes certain exports and reexports of agricultural products, medicine, medical devices, replacement parts and components and other humanitarian goods involving Ansarallah.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people, 14 entities and six vessels for their involvement in a sanctions evasion network in Venezuela’s oil sector, OFAC said Jan. 19. The designations include Malta-based Elemento and Switzerland-based Swissoil, both of which are involved in buying, shipping and selling Venezuelan oil. OFAC also sanctioned Francisco Javier D’Agostino Casado, Alessandro Bazzoni and Philipp Paul Vartan Apikian for helping to coordinate the oil purchases. The agency also sanctioned a range of entities controlled by Bazzoni, D’Agostino and Elemento and ships that transported the oil.