The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that it will again extend Section 301 product exclusions for imports from China of medical care products needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The USTR will extend product exclusions on 81 medical care products, as set forth in Annex B of USTR’s announcement, for an
OFAC Again Extends Venezuela General License for Limited Maintenance or Wind-Down of Transactions Involving PdVSA and Certain Entities
On May 27, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 8J, extending authorization until December 1 for certain activities previously authorized under General License 8I. General License 8J authorizes the continuation of transactions and activities “ordinarily incident and necessary to the limited maintenance of essential
OFAC Issues Syria General License Authorizing Certain Activities in Non-Regime Held Areas of Northeast and Northwest Syria
On May 12, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 22, which authorizes certain transactions, including processing or transfer of funds on behalf of third-country entities, otherwise prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SSR) that are ordinarily incident and necessary to activities in the
Provision of Certain Professional Services to Russia Prohibited under U.S. Sanctions
Key Notes:
- Persons, including non-U.S. persons, providing accounting, trust and corporate formation, and management consulting services in Russia may be added to the SDN List.
- U.S. persons are prohibited from providing these same services to Russian persons unless the recipient of the services is the subsidiary of a U.S. person.
The Department of the Treasury’s
OFAC Imposes Additional Sanctions on Russian Telecommunications, Shipping and Defense Companies
On May 8, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) implemented additional sanctions on several sectors of the Russian economy. OFAC designated three Russian telecommunications companies and placed them on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, noting that they are Russian state-controlled television stations generating revenue for the Russian government.
BIS Expands Russian Export Controls: Significant Expansion of Supplement No. 4 List
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued on May 9, 2022, a Final Rule that greatly expands the list of items requiring a license to export to Russia. The export restrictions impact a broad range of inputs and products including wood products, industrial engines, boilers, motors, fans, and ventilation equipment, bulldozers,
BIS Creates Russia Export Control Resources Web Page
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has created a web page offering “Resources on Export Controls Implemented in Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.” The web page provides convenient links to relevant BIS press releases, fact sheets, and Federal Register notices related to BIS actions involving export controls and
U.S. International Trade Commission to Investigate Effects of Section 232 and Section 301 Tariffs on U.S. Industries
On May 5, 2022, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced the initiation of a general factfinding investigation that will examine the impact of tariffs on U.S. imports under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 in effect as of March 15, 2022. The
OFAC Adds Russian Entities to SDN List and Issues General Licenses for Certain Activities
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added multiple new entities and persons to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List after determining that they were involved in attempts to evade U.S. sanctions put in place as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. OFAC has designated Russian commercial bank PJSC
BIS Expands Export Restrictions on Russia and Belarus
On and effective April 8, 2022, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule that expands upon prior export control restrictions placed on Russian and Belarus in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This rule expands restrictive license requirements to include Commerce Control List (CCL) categories 0-2, which include