The Office of Foreign Assets Control released regulations Sept. 30 to implement a June executive order (see 2006110028) authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court. OFAC released the regulations in a final rule effective Oct. 1 in “abbreviated form” to provide “immediate guidance to the public.” The agency said it plans to soon publish a more “comprehensive set of regulations,” which may include guidance on definitions, general licenses and information on licensing policy.
The State Department issued the final version of its guidance on exports of surveillance technology (see 1909040071 and 1911060049), which includes definitions and guidance principles for companies to weigh before exporting sensitive items to potential human rights abusers. The Sept. 30 guidance expands on the agency’s initial definition of human rights due diligence and offers a range of red flags and due diligence considerations, but did not significantly narrow its definition for surveillance items, despite requests from industry.
The World Customs Organization issued the following release on commercial trade and related matters:
Saudi Arabian Logistics earlier this month began managing customs security operations for most airports in Saudi Arabia, a move intended to improve customs efficiency, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Sept. 28. While Saudi’s customs authority will still manage supervision services, SAL will provide “specialised logistics and ground‑handling services” that may reduce times for imports, cargo clearance, security clearances and expand the country’s storage capacity, the HKTDC said. The change is part of Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a “leading global logistics” center.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on Sept. 28 released its quarterly report, covering Jan. 1 to March 31, 2020, on its sanctions regimes. The report contains OFSI’s sanctions statistics, including the number of accounts the agency has frozen, the total value of funds it has blocked, the number of new designations last quarter and other licensing statistics.
Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department issued a notice Sept. 29 reminding companies of its license for traders who “frequently” import or export “strategic commodities of relatively less sensitivity.” The “Approval-in-Principle Arrangement for Bulk Users of Strategic Commodities Licensing Service” streamlines and expedites processing of license applications, the agency said. The notice outlines the application process, conditions for approval and which items are eligible for the license.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Japan worth about $55 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Sept. 28. The sale includes 51 “Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles, RIM-116C,” operator manuals, technical documentations and storage containers. The prime contractor is Raytheon Missiles and Defense Company.
President Donald Trump will nominate Scott Dane of Minnesota to become a member of the President’s Export Council, the White House said Sept. 28. The White House did not release more information about the nominee.
Two Iranian men were charged in a conspiracy to illegally export computer servers to Iran, the Justice Department said Sept. 28. Ebrahim Azadegan and Alireza Alvandi were charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations when they allegedly tried to ship the servers without licenses. The servers are classified as dual-use goods under the Commerce Control List and are export controlled for anti-terrorism and national security reasons.
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