Jorge Nobrega, chief executive of Achabal Technologies, was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and commit money laundering, according to an Aug. 16 complaint filed at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Nobrega was charged in particular with violating the sanctions on Venezuela by repairing Venezuelan Air Force combat aircraft without an authorization (United States of America v. Jorge Nobrega, S.D. Fla. #21-03590).
The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 23 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs), it said in a final rule Aug. 18. As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity 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 chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Oct. 18. The SNURs cover the following:
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls recent settlement with Keysight Technologies shows the agency is growing more aggressive with certain compliance requirements and violations involving software and technical data, Miller & Chevalier said Aug. 18. At the same time, DDTC continues to reward cooperation and other mitigating factors with significant penalty reductions as it tries to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose violations and work with the agency during its investigation.
China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress, on Aug. 20 will discuss extending an anti-sanctions law to Hong Kong, local Chinese media outlet TVB News quoted NPC Standing Committee delegate Tam Yiu-chung as saying, Reuters reported. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she has no timeline for the implementation of the mainland Chinese law meant to retaliate against foreign sanctions.
The United Nations Security Council on Aug. 16 called on member countries to allow “unhindered” humanitarian access to Afghanistan amid the countrywide takeover by the Taliban. Countries should allow “immediate” access for “humanitarian actors providing assistance, including across conflict lines, to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches all those in need,” the UNSC said. U.S. sanctions regulations include carve-outs and licenses for some humanitarian activities, although groups have criticized the sanctions for hindering their work (see 2105260047). The European Union recently expanded its guidance for humanitarian efforts in countries subject to sanctions (see 2108170031).
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls said Aug. 18 it is reviewing all relevant pending and issued export licenses, as well as “other approvals,” in light of the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan. The agency is determining their “suitability in furthering world peace, national security, and the foreign policy of the United States,” and said industry should expect “additional updates in the near future.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security released a final rule to make technical corrections and clarifications (see 2108110010) to a 2020 rule that transferred export control jurisdiction over certain firearms from the State Department to the Commerce Department. The rule, released Aug. 18 and effective Sept. 20, introduced changes to make the requirements “easier to understand” and “interpreted consistently,” BIS said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security fined a U.S. semiconductor manufacturer $469,060 for working with others to export chip-making equipment to Chinese companies on the U.S. Entity List, BIS said in an Aug. 16 order. The company, California-based Dynatex International, violated the Export Administration Regulations because it didn’t obtain the required BIS license before shipping the equipment. Although BIS said Dynatex knew it was shipping items to blacklisted companies, the agency substantially reduced the fine as part of a settlement agreement.
The Swiss Federal Council implemented an asset freeze and travel ban on eight Nicaraguan officials, joining the European Union in imposing the restrictions, according to a notice from the council. Due to an "ongoing violation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua," Switzerland made the restrictions, including on Vice President and first lady Rosario Maria Murillo de Ortega. The other seven affected individuals include Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortes, Juan Antonio Valle Valle, Ana Julia Guido Ochoa, Fidel de Jesus Dominguez Alvarez, Juan Carlos Ortega Murillo, Alba Luz Ramos Vanegas and Bayardo Arce Castano. The council also delisted Libyan General Tohami Khaled, another decision in line with the EU's, since the general died.
The European Commission tacked a section onto its guidance for COVID-19-related aid to countries subject to EU sanctions, to discuss how the guidance extends to counterterrorism sanctions. In the Aug. 13 notice, the commission said sanctions do not cover medicine, medical equipment or assistance given to the population writ large. Sanctions also will not cover exports of medicine and equipment needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Humanitarian operators may “liaise” with sanctioned people or entities if it is needed to organize the provision of humanitarian aid in a safe and effective way, but these operators must ensure that their partners for the delivery of such humanitarian aid are not EU designated, the guidance said.