The State Department approved another potential military sale to Taiwan worth about $600 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Nov. 3, drawing backlash from China. The sale includes four “Weapons-Ready MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft” and related equipment. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. will be the principal contractor.
The State Department removed certain sanctions from an Islamic organization in western China, it said in a notice released Nov 4. The move revoked the designation of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement as a “terrorist organization” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Three U.S. companies said they may have violated U.S. sanctions or export controls related to overseas sales and illegally processed payments, according to their most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The potential violations include disclosures of dealings with sanctioned businesses, including sales to Iran.
Germany revised and added to its list of items subject to dual-use and military-related export controls, the EU Sanctions blog said Nov. 2. The additions, which took effect Oct. 29, include small firearms and components related to hunting and sports, software specially designed for “military offensive cyber operations,” certain land vehicles with military equipment, equipment relating to radiation weapons systems, and items used at “environmental testing facilities” to evaluate weapons and ammunition.
The Bureau of Industry and Security did not impose penalties on a U.S. electronics company that had disclosed potential export violations (see 1911290004) for shipments involving Iran and Syria, Arrow Electronics said in an Oct. 29 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Arrow, which disclosed that it helped ship $5,000 worth of products to resellers covered by U.S. sanctions, said BIS closed its investigation and issued the company a warning letter with no penalties. BIS declined to comment. Arrow said it is still being investigated by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for the sanctions violations, which “may result in the imposition of penalties.”
The United Kingdom Nov. 3 published guidance for its sanctions regimes covering Nicaragua, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon, and for its cyber-related designations. The guidance documents will help companies comply with the sanctions regimes after the U.K. leaves the European Union Jan. 1, 2021, the U.K. said, and covers prohibitions and requirements in each set of regulations.
More than 70 countries voiced their support for the International Criminal Court, criticizing U.S. sanctions against the body. They are “undeterred by any measures or threats against the Court, its officials and those cooperating with it,” the nations said in a Nov. 2 statement. Signers include France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.
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China’s new export control law (see 2010190033 and 2010220024) is expected to significantly impact trade and may include “very broad” catch-all controls, leading to compliance burdens for companies doing business in China, law firms said. Businesses should review their compliance programs to make sure they are prepared for the regulations and to avoid potential Chinese penalties, firms said, which could be severe.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended two entries on its Burundi sanctions list, it said Nov. 2. The revisions update identifying information for government officials Godefroid Bizimana and Gervais Ndirakobuca.