The United Nations issued a sanctions exemption to allow a South Korean non-governmental organization to ship goods into North Korea, according to an April 30 UN letter. The organization, Greentree International, will import a range of construction materials into North Korea for an “agricultural rehabilitation project” to assist people with disabilities. The items will be shipped together in a “consolidated manner” to increase “efficiency of shipping and custom clearance.”
The European Council sanctioned six people responsible for human rights violations in Nicaragua, according to a May 4 press release. The EU sanctioned Ramon Antonio Avellan Medal, Sonia Castro Gonzalez, Francisco Javier Diaz Madriz, Nestor Moncada Lau, Luis Perez Olivas and Justo Pastor Urbina. All six people are officials working for Nicaragua’s National Police or the government.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 27 - May 1 in case you missed them.
The Commerce Department’s new export restrictions on military end-users may significantly raise due diligence requirements for industry, leading to licensing delays and a burdensome vetting process for technology companies, law firms said. If Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security does not clarify the scope of the rule to limit its impact, the rules are likely to damage the semiconductor, telecommunications and aircraft sectors, the law firms said. “This could have a detrimental impact on a broad swath of U.S. industry,” Baker McKenzie said in an April 30 blog post. “A universe of transactions triggering license requirements could significantly increase.”
The European Union Council urged the United Nations to renew its arms embargo against South Sudan, saying in an April 30 press release the country is still marred by “widespread violations of human rights.” The EU also said it is prepared to impose more sanctions against South Sudan “if such violations continue or the peace process is undermined.”
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of May 4 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for three chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemicals for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemicals will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect July 6.
United Nations human rights experts are urging the U.S. to lift sanctions and other trade measures against Cuba to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 30 news release. The UN called on the U.S. to lift trade barriers, tariffs, quotas and other non-tariff measures that may be blocking Cuban imports of humanitarian goods. The experts said U.S. policy toward Cuba creates a “cumbersome and expensive licensing process” for exports. They also said the U.S. has “ignored repeated calls to waive sanctions that undermine the capacity of Cuba and other countries to respond effectively to the pandemic.” The Treasury Department said it maintains sufficient exemptions for humanitarian trade (see 2004170017 and 2004100044).
Germany sanctioned Hezbollah and confiscated its assets, according to an unofficial translation of an April 30 government notice. The sanctions also apply to Hizballah “sub-organizations” based in Germany, the notice said.
Canada issued limits for exporting newly prohibited firearms, in a May 1 notice to exporters. “The purpose of this Notice is to advise exporters of export controls implications flowing from the announcement by the Prime Minister that a number of firearms are now considered 'prohibited firearms,'” it said. The Canada Border Services Agency also posted a notice that said that several firearms are now illegal to import. “Please be advised that the ... (CBSA) will immediately begin prohibiting the importation of all firearms that are listed in the Regulations by individuals or businesses, unless an exemption is met,” it said.