Japan imposed another wave of sanctions on Russia, laying out an export ban of certain goods used to support industrial infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced June 10, according to an unofficial translation. The export ban covers wood and wood products, steel storage tanks, hand or processing tools and machines, electrical equipment, trains, bulldozers and trucks. The restrictions will enter into force June 17.
The U.S. this week spoke with China to again warn it about helping Russia avoid international sanctions, a senior administration official said. During a June 13 meeting between U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Politburo Member Yang Jiechi, Sullivan “reiterated concerns that the United States has raised repeatedly with China with respect to certain kinds of assistance to Russia,” the official said during a call with reporters. Although U.S. officials said they haven’t yet seen signs that China is helping Moscow evade sanctions, the U.S. has publicly and privately warned Beijing it will face severe penalties if it does so, including secondary sanctions and strict export controls (see 2203140009).
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week approved a bill that would authorize U.S. sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act against anyone who helps Iran acquire unmanned drones or their parts. The bill was overwhelmingly passed by the House in April (see 2204280007).
U.S.-based Hygienic Dress League Corp said it may have violated U.S. sanctions, according to a June 9 SEC filing. The company, which operates in the non-fungible-tokens sector, said it recently submitted a voluntary self-disclosure to the Office of Foreign Assets Control after it may have allowed its software to be downloaded by people or entities located in territories subject to U.S. trade embargoes. After learning of the potential violations, the company began an “internal review” and took “remedial action designed to prevent similar activity from occurring in the future,” the filing said. The disclosure is still under review by OFAC.
Braumiller Law Group released a June 12 “primer” on deemed export control compliance, outlining who may be subject to the controls and what is considered a release of technology, source code and technical data. The post also details several examples of deemed export enforcement actions, saying penalties can be mitigated through voluntary self-disclosures and “proactive compliance measures.”
Nadiya Nychay, former partner at Dentons, has joined Jones Day as a partner in its government regulation practice based in Brussels, the firm announced. Nychay covers matters involving the World Trade Organization, EU regulatory and trade proceedings and international trade disputes. She also counsels clients on international sanctions and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance, the firm said. Before joining Dentons, Nychay served as a legal officer in the Rules and Accessions Divisions at the WTO.
Some Russian airlines are considering relocating to Turkey to skirt sanctions that so far have stopped them from leasing aircraft and accessing maintenance and repair facilities. Pegas Touristik, owner of Nordwind Airlines, and Anex Tourism Group, operator of Azur Air, have had discussions with leasing companies in Turkey about getting planes, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported June 8. Azur Air and Nordwind primarily ferry Russian tourists to marquee locations and are controlled by Turkish businessmen. Since the carriers are not sanctioned, their relocation wouldn't violate the restrictions, Bloomberg said. The EU's sanctions led to companies terminating leases to airlines in Russia and banned the carriers from flying in European airspace.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to international import certificates. Importers use the certificate to certify to the U.S. government that they won’t reexport the goods “except in accordance with the export control regulations” of the U.S. Comments are due Aug. 12.
Joe Sery, former owner and CEO of Tungsten Heavy Powder & Parts, pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List to China, India and other countries without first getting a license from the State Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced June 9. Sery's actions violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulation, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General Licenses related to Syria, Iran and Venezuela, "Authorizing Certain Activities to Respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic," according to a June 10 notice.