The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Dec. 23 extended a general license related to Petroleos de Venezuela and updated a frequently asked question. General License No. 5F, which replaced No. 5E (see 2010060036), authorizes certain transactions with PdVSA involving an 8.5% bond on or after July 21, 2021. OFAC also updated a Venezuela sanctions FAQ to reflect the change.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned one person and four entities for involvement in the “fraudulent” presidential elections in Belarus earlier this year and the “violent crackdown” on peaceful pro-democracy protests, OFAC said Dec. 23. The sanctions target Henadz Arkadzievich Kazakevich, a senior government official and chief of the country’s Criminal Police. OFAC also designated the Minsk Special Purpose Police Unit, the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee and KGB Alpha for suppressing peaceful protests. The agency also sanctioned the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Elections and Holding Republican Referenda for undermining the country’s elections.
The State Department published its fall 2020 regulatory agenda. The agenda includes a new mention of a proposed rule to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations to allow certain employees involved in ITAR activities to work remotely. The rule will revise the ITAR’s definition of a “regular employee” and clarify the “contractual relationships that meet the definition of regular employee.” The State Department sent the rule for interagency review this month (see 2012080011) and aims to issue the rule in February 2021.
The Bureau of Industry and Security reduced licensing restrictions for certain exports to Ukraine, Mexico and Cyprus by revising their Country Group designations in the Export Administration Regulations (see 2011230010), according to a final rule released Dec. 23. The rule moves Ukraine from Country Group D to County Group B and adds Mexico and Cyprus in Country Group A:6, making more license exceptions available for each country. The changes take effect Dec. 28.
The United Kingdom Dec. 21 updated its guidance on exporting controlled goods after Brexit to reflect new provisions on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the European Union (see 2012180009). Northern Ireland will be considered part of the EU’s customs territory and no licenses will be required to ship dual-use items, with some exceptions, the U.K. said. If unsure, traders should seek advice from their “relevant EU member state licensing authority.”
Congress’s omnibus and COVID-19 relief package includes provisions on export controls and the Export Control Reform Act. Provisions in the spending package require the director of national intelligence to assess the state of U.S. export controls and report on the foreign use of sensitive surveillance technologies. The package, passed Dec. 21, requires the DNI to “complete an assessment” of export controls on artificial intelligence, microchips, advanced manufacturing equipment and “other AI-enabled technologies,” and to identify “opportunities for further cooperation” with U.S. allies. The package also requires the DNI to submit a report on threats posed by foreign governments and entities using “commercially available cyber intrusion and other surveillance technology,” exports that are monitored closely by the Commerce and State Departments (see 2009300056). In addition, the appropriations act for the 2021 fiscal year includes “awards for compensation to informers” of violations under ECRA, but does not specify the amount.
Norway proposed a new “sanctions act” that will allow it to implement certain European Union human rights sanctions, a Dec. 18 news release said. The act will “extend the government’s authority to impose sanctions” on people “involved in especially serious acts that demand a response” by allowing Norway to impose financial sanctions. The country said it is currently able to impose only travel restrictions.
The U.S. sanctioned eight people and 10 entities for being members of or supporting the Syrian government, the Treasury Department said Dec. 22. The sanctions designate two people and 10 entities by Treasury and six people by the State Department. Treasury also issued three new frequently asked questions related to Syria.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Dec. 21 completed its review of a final Bureau of Industry and Security rule concerning Sudan. The rule, received by OIRA Dec. 3 (see 2012080003), would revise the Export Administration Regulations to reflect the U.S.'s rescission of Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism (see 2012170015).
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Dec. 14-18 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching on the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.