Russia's largest ports have seen freight volumes tank due to the EU's sanctions on Moscow, according to research from Vincent Stamer, an expert at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The St. Petersburg port saw an 85% plummet in container throughput in 2022 vs. 2021, with Stamer saying few containers are arriving at what used to be Russia's busiest port, Bloomberg reported. The Kiel Institute, a German economic think tank, showed that Russia brought in 24% fewer goods per month from June through August, compared with the same period last year, leaving a $4.5 billion monthly import gap.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to “miscellaneous licensing responsibilities and enforcement.” The collection involves various activities that “do not involve submission of documents to the BIS but instead involve exchange of documents among parties in the export transaction to ensure that each party understands its obligations under U.S. law,” the agency said in a notice released this week. Other activities involve writing export control statements on shipping documents or reporting “unforeseen changes in shipping and disposition of exported commodities.” The activities are needed by the Office of Export Enforcement and CBP to document exports and enforce the Export Administration Regulations. Comments are due Jan. 9.
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 notice issued this week. Mahan Airways has been on the banned list since 2008, and Commerce said the Iranian airline has continued to fly into Moscow in violation of U.S. export controls against Russia. The latest renewal is for 180 days from Nov. 8.
The Federal Maritime Commission’s proposed definition for a carrier’s “unreasonable” refusal to accommodate U.S. exports is too broad and doesn't meet congressional intent, said Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and John Garamendi, D-Calif., who led the House’s passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.
In coordination with the Netherlands and the U.K., the Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 9 sanctioned three individuals and nine entities for their connection to internet-based suppliers of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two business associates of a sanctioned al-Qaida financial facilitator. The designations target Mohamad Irshad Mohamad Haris Nizar and Musab Turkmen, who “conducted business activities” to help Ahmed Luqman Talib, the sanctioned facilitator.
The U.S. and South Korea launched a new working group this week to better harmonize the countries’ export control decisions and ensure a “level-playing field” for businesses. BIS said it hopes the working group will help both sides identify “specific actions” to “advance export controls cooperation.” The announcement comes about a month after the U.S. issued a range of new semiconductor-related restrictions on exports to China -- controls that the U.S. hopes to convince allies, including South Korea, to also impose (see 2210270047 and 2210070049).
The new U.S. chip controls against China (see 2210070049 and 2211010042) mark a “major escalation” in the U.S.-China technology war and will likely have a significant effect on China’s technology capabilities, Bank of America said this week. The bank also warned that the controls, which are “more comprehensive and stricter than what we have seen in the past,” could ultimately open the “door to more sweeping restrictions in other domains like leading edge manufacturing.”
The European Council on Nov. 8 extended until Nov. 12, 2023, the sanctions regime relating to unauthorized drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the council announced. The sanctions currently apply to two individuals, who are subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze. The illegal drilling activities include drilling for hydrocarbons.
The EU imposed restrictions on 19 individuals and one entity under its Myanmar sanctions regime, the European Council announced Nov. 8. The individuals include Kan Zaw, minister of investment and foreign economic relations; Htun Htun Oo, Supreme Court chief justice; and high-level officials in the Myanmar Armed Forces and Union Election Commission. The State Administration Council was listed due to its "central role in undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar/Burma as well as in actions that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country," the council said. Restrictions initially were put in place following the military coup in Myanmar and currently apply to 84 individuals and 11 entities, subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban.