The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls said Nov. 7 it was running into a “delay generating customer service cases from the DDTCCustomerService@state.gov email” and Defense Export Control and Compliance System tickets. DDTC said it has since resolved the problem. Questions can be directed to the Help Desk at 202-663-2838 and the Response Team at 202-663-1282.
The Congressional Research Service issued a report this month on Iran’s transfer of weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, detailing the specific items that may have been sent and possible next steps for the U.S. The report noted Congress may look to push for more sanctions against any person or entity involved in the sales and is considering the Stop Iranian Drones Act, which would clarify U.S. sanctions policy on Iranian efforts to acquire unmanned drones. The House passed the bill in April (see 2204280007, 2112010019 and 2211020033).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned one person and one entity for helping Myanmar’s military purchase weapons. The designations, announced alongside similar measures by the EU (see 2211080006), target Kyaw Min Oo, a Myanmar national and businessman with close ties to the country’s military, and Sky Aviator, his company. OFAC said Kyaw Min Oo has “facilitated arms deals and weapons purchases on behalf” of Myanmar’s military, and has helped arrange visits to Myanmar by high-ranking foreign military officers. Sky Aviator is used to “facilitate upgrades and maintenance” of the country’s military aircraft, OFAC said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control announced several North Korea-related sanctions measures this week, including designations against two people involved in illegally importing goods into the country. OFAC also delisted and redesignated the virtual currency mixer Tornado Cash to account for “additional information” and to include an “additional basis” for the mixer’s designation. The agency issued a new frequently asked question to offer compliance guidance for Tornado Cash and updated three existing FAQs.
U.S. semiconductor company Nvidia is offering a new advanced chip to Chinese customers that complies with the Commerce Department’s new export restrictions (see 2210070049), a company spokesperson said Nov. 8. The person said Nvidia's new A800 chip, which recently went into production, is designed to meet U.S. licensing requirements. "The NVIDIA A800 GPU, which went into production in Q3, is another alternative product to the NVIDIA A100 GPU for customers in China," the spokesperson said in a Nov. 8 email. "The A800 meets the U.S. Government’s clear test for reduced export control and cannot be programmed to exceed it." The spokesperson declined to say if Nvidia had confirmed with Commerce whether the chip complies with U.S. export regulations. Reuters first reported the new chip.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Bureau of Industry and Security should avoid placing export controls on automated peptide synthesizers, U.S. companies said, arguing that the restrictions would hurt U.S. technological leadership and wouldn't do much to limit the proliferation of biological weapons. A Chinese national academy also opposed the controls, saying they could stifle global research and innovation.
A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with two recent EU sanctions moves under the Iran and ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaeda sanctions regimes, the European Council announced Nov. 7. Under the Iran restrictions list, the council amended the list of individuals and entities subject to sanctions Oct. 17. In response, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway aligned with the decision. The council also extended the restrictive measures under the ISIL and al-Qaeda sanctions list. The countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Armenia imposed the decision in their governments.
Individuals and entities must submit frozen assets reports to the U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation by Nov. 11, OFSI announced. Any party that holds or controls funds or economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by a sanctioned party must report the details of these assets to OFSI. The reporting template was updated Oct. 27.
The Biden administration should “show strength” in response to North Korea’s recent string of missile launches into the sea, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Kim Jong Un regime “has been given a moment of opportunity by the Biden administration’s weakness on the world stage and the support” of China in “evading sanctions,” McCaul said Nov. 3. “I strongly urge the administration to put forward a strategy that supports our allies, the Republic of Korea and Japan, and begins dealing with Kim from a position of strength.”