The State Department approved a potential military sale to Taiwan worth about $2.37 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Oct. 26. The sale includes 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and related equipment including missiles, containers, transporter units, radar trucks and spare parts. The principal contractor will be Boeing. The notification of the proposed sale came the same day China announced sanctions on three U.S. defense companies for their involvement in other military sales to Taiwan (see 2010260017).
The Bureau of Industry and Security revoked export privileges for two Orlando, Florida, residents after they illegally exported firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Haiti, BIS said in Oct. 26 orders. BIS said Junior Joel Joseph was convicted April 12, 2019, of violating the Arms Export Control Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when he conspired to export AR-15 rifles, Glock semi-automatic pistols, shotguns and ammunition to Haiti without the required licenses. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with three years of supervised release and a $500 fine. Jimy Joseph was convicted May 22, 2019, of conspiring to illegally export AR-15 rifles, Glock semi-automatic pistols and ammunition and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200 fine. BIS revoked each man's export privileges for seven years from the date of his conviction.
The United Kingdom passed sanctions regulations related to immigration, overseas territories and Lebanon, an Oct. 27 EU Sanctions blog post said. The immigration-related regulations contain provisions on sanctioned people subject to a travel ban but “lawfully in the U.K.,” the post said. The other regulations affect licenses and authorizations, including the implementation of Lebanese sanctions, in U.K. overseas territories.
The European Union renewed its sanctions against the Republic of Guinea for one year, until Oct. 27, 2021, the EU said Oct. 26. The regime places asset freezes on five people.
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The European Union applauded the ceasefire agreement in Libya but threatened sanctions if the fighting continues or if the United Nations arms embargo against Libya is violated, the EU said Oct. 25. “The European Union and its Member States call on all international and regional actors to support the Libyan efforts unequivocally, refrain from foreign interference in the Libyan conflict and stop the violations of the UN arms embargo,” the EU said. “In this regard, the EU recalls its instrument of sanctions against possible spoilers.” The EU recently designated a Russian businessman for violating the embargo (see 2010150010).
China said it will sanction three U.S. aerospace and defense companies for their arms sales to Taiwan, saying the exports “seriously undermine” China’s national security. The sanctions will target Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon for their involvement in $1.8 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, which was announced by the State Department Oct. 21 (see 2010220020). A China Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Oct. 26 the country will also sanction “U.S. individuals and entities who played an egregious role in the process.” China did not say what the sanctions will entail.
Sixteen African countries urged the lifting of all international sanctions against Zimbabwe, saying it is suffering from a range of “socio-economic challenges” caused by the restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanctions should be “unconditionally lifted for Zimbabwe to improve the livelihoods of her citizens, and develop unhindered,” Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, president of Mozambique and the chair of the intergovernmental Southern African Development Community, said in an Oct. 24 news release. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control did not comment.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Oct. 26 updated 10 frequently asked questions and published one new FAQ to provide guidance on its most recent update to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (see 2010230024). OFAC’s new FAQ outlines which general licenses the change affects and clarifies how the restrictions apply to entities on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. The agency also clarified that effective Nov. 26, people subject to U.S. jurisdiction will no longer be able to process remittances to or from Cuba “through [Financiera Cimex, called] FINCIMEX or any other entity or subentity on the [Cuba Restricted List].”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned eight people, 11 entities and two vessels for operating in Iran’s oil sector and supporting the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, OFAC said Oct. 26. OFAC also issued an updated Iran-related general license and amended six frequently asked questions.