The State Department is seeking comments on an information collection involving requests to change end-user, end-use and “destination of hardware” information, the agency said in a notice released Nov. 27. Those requests are submitted to the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls before DDTC can approve exports of certain defense goods to parties other than those stated on a license. Comments are due Dec. 28.
The Commerce Department again renewed a temporary export denial order for Mahan Airways because the airline continues to violate the order and the Export Administration Regulations, according to a Nov. 24 notice. The Iranian airline has been on the banned list since 2008, with the last denial renewed May 29. The latest renewal is for 180 days beyond Nov. 24, Commerce said.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended two entries under its cyberattacks sanctions regime, according to a Nov. 24 notice. The notice updated identifying information for Gao Qiang and Zhang Shilong, two Chinese nationals involved in cyberattacks on multinational companies in the European Union (see 2007310007).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Kaniyat militia and its leader, Mohamed al-Kani, for serious human rights abuses, according to a Nov. 25 press release. Al-Kani and the militia are responsible for numerous civilian executions and other human rights violations in Libya, OFAC said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control published a notice Nov. 30 listing three previously issued Venezuela-related general licenses that contain authorizations related to Petroleos de Venezuela. In addition to the current General License 5E, the notice contains general licenses 5C and 5D, both of which were superseded by GL 5E, which was issued in October (see 2010060036). The authorizations in GL 5E will become effective Jan. 19, 2021.
The Bureau of Industry and Security expects to roll out a more multilateral approach to export controls under the Joe Biden administration but does not expect any major changes to its China policies or Entity List decisions, a senior Commerce Department official said. The official pointed to the strong bipartisan support among lawmakers for Chinese sanctions and export controls, which likely will continue under a new administration. “I don't see that going away. I think the Hill is engaged. I think at least from what President-elect Biden has announced with his Cabinet, these are folks who are familiar with the national security issues,” the official, who declined to be named in order to speak candidly about BIS, said in an interview last week. “So I don't expect a lot of substantive change.”
Canada stopped issuing new permits for exports and brokering of controlled goods and technology to Belarus due to concerns about the country’s fraudulent presidential election and reports of human rights violations under the new regime, Canada said in a Nov. 9 notice. Canada issued sanctions on Belarusian officials Sept. 29 (see 2009300011). Canadian exporters that were issued permits before Nov. 9 may continue to export during their “period of validity,” the notice said. The country said it will “continue to monitor the evolving situation and may reassess” the decision.
While the Joe Biden administration will likely pursue more multilateral sanctions than the Trump administration, industry should not expect the Office of Foreign Assets Control to reverse its yearslong trend of increased sanctions, a former OFAC official and law firms said.
Japan revised its foreign exchange and export control ordinance regarding review of certain “cargo and technology,” a Nov. 24 news release said, according to an unofficial translation. The changes affect technology related to the “design of equipment attached to numerical control devices,” liquids that “can be used as refrigerants” and “electric braking shutters.” Japan said it will begin enforcing the changes Jan. 27, 2021.
The United Kingdom collected about £700,000 ($935,000) in fines related to export violations between March and September, a Nov. 24 notice said. The fines, which ranged from £1,000 ($1,335) to more than £200,000 ($267,000), were related to unlicensed exports of dual-use goods, military goods and “related activity” controlled under the U.K.’s Export Control Order 2008.