The United Kingdom’s Export Control Joint Unit on Nov. 10 issued contact information for defense-related export inquiries after it said exporters have had trouble reaching the agency. The ECJU said some U.K. exporters are sending emails to “out of date team contacts and email addresses,” and the defense ministry team at the ECJU is “not receiving these requests, which means that a response cannot be sent.” The agency stressed that all exporter requests related to general export license approval letters, exemption letters and other defense-related export matters should be sent to ECJU-MODTeam@mod.gov.uk.
The State Department designated Arnoldo Aleman, a former president of Nicaragua, due to his involvement in “significant corruption,” it said Nov. 9. The agency also designated several of Aleman’s family members: Maria Fernanda Flores Lanzas de Aleman, Maria Dolores Aleman Cardenal, Maria Alejandra Aleman Cardenal and Carlos Miguel Aleman Cardenal. The State Department said Arnoldo Aleman misappropriated millions of dollars in public funds to benefit himself and his family while he held the office of president from 1997 to 2002. “While this designation is based on acts during his time in office, Aleman’s corruption continues to reverberate in Nicaragua today,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned four people and six companies that helped procure U.S.-origin electronics components and other “sensitive” goods for an Iranian military firm, the agency said Nov. 10. OFAC said the network of people and companies helped ship the items to Iran Communication Industries, which produces military communications systems, electronic warfare items, missile launchers and other goods for Iran.
China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S.’s Nov. 9 decision to sanction four more Hong Kong officials (see 2011090044), saying the U.S. has “blatantly meddled in Hong Kong affairs.” Hong Kong “is part of China and its affairs are entirely China's internal affairs which allow no foreign interference,” a ministry spokesperson said during a Nov. 10 news conference, according to a transcript the ministry released. “China urges the US side to immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, immediately lift the so-called sanctions and refrain from going further down the wrong path.” The last time the U.S. designated Hong Kong officials, China retaliated by sanctioning U.S. lawmakers and other U.S. citizens (see 2008100023).
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The European Council and the European Parliament agreed to new export control regulations for dual-use goods and sensitive technologies, paving the way for the European Union to soon implement a host of updated export control policies, licensing procedures and enforcement methods. The regulations, which have been discussed for years (see 1911290006 and 1906050039), will lead to more “accountable, competitive and transparent” trade in dual-use items, the council said Nov. 9.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended the comment period for an information collection related to foreign importer certificates, end-user certificates, delivery verification certificates and firearms entry clearance requirements, a notice released Nov. 9 said. BIS said it wants more feedback on its collection for import and end-user certificates -- which are “obtained by the foreign importer and transmitted to the U.S. exporter” -- and delivery verification for BIS-controlled items. The agency is also seeking feedback on its information collection for firearms clearance requirements, which have changed due to the recent transfer of certain firearms controls from the State Department. “The Department of Commerce controls the [Commerce Control List] and must now take over this collection of information,” BIS said. The “entry clearance requirements for temporary imports will specify the [Export Administration Regulations] procedures for temporary imports and subsequent exports.” Comments are due Dec. 10.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began a review of a final rule from the Bureau of Industry and Security to remove Hong Kong as a “separate destination” under the Export Administration Regulations. OIRA received the rule Nov. 6. BIS announced in June that it suspended license applications for shipments to Hong Kong (see 2006300050) to further align Hong Kong export regulations with mainland China.
FedEx is appealing a U.S. court’s September decision to dismiss the company’s 2019 lawsuit against the Bureau of Industry and Security (see 2009110038), according to court records filed Nov. 5. The shipping company told the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that BIS was acting outside the authority of the Export Administration Regulations by applying overly burdensome liability standards on carriers (see 1906250030). But BIS said FedEx’s allegations were politically driven (see 1909110073) and the court said FedEx failed to prove the allegations (see 2009110038). In September, FedEx said it was “disappointed” by the court’s ruling and was considering an appeal (see 2009140003).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 17 Syrian and Lebanese people and entities for operating in Syria’s oil industry and supporting the Bashar al-Assad’s regime oil production network, according to a Nov. 9 press release. The sanctions target Syrian military officials, members of Syria’s Parliament, Syrian government entities and both Syrian and Lebanese people trying to “revive Syria’s deteriorating petroleum industry,” OFAC said.