On June 14, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued amended Russia-related General License No. 8C extending the authorization to conduct transactions involving the Central Bank of Russia and certain Russian banks that are related to energy until December 5, 2022. The original General License No. 8, issued on
Federal Circuit Dismisses Broad Challenge to Section 232 Tariffs
In a June 9, 2022 opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit or CAFC) upheld the decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) dismissing Universal Steel Products Holding’s challenge to Section 232 tariffs that the Trump administration placed on steel imports. The plaintiffs had earlier challenged both
Declaring an Emergency, President Biden Exempts Certain Solar Cell Imports from Duties for 24 Months and Invokes DPA to Accelerate Domestic Production
On June 6, 2022, President Joseph Biden announced that he was declaring an emergency “with respect to the threats to the availability of sufficient electricity generation capacity to meet expected customer demand” in the United States. Announcing that a “robust and reliable electric power system” is critical to national security and national defense, the president
BIS Adds 71 Russian and Belarusian Companies to Entity List
On June 2, 2022, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule adding 71 entities located in Russia and Belarus to the Entity List in further response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These entities have been determined by the U.S. government to be acting contrary to the national security
OFAC Designates Additional Russian Entities and Persons and Issues Russia-Related General Licenses
On June 2, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated and blocked numerous additional Russian and related entities that are “key networks” relied upon by President Vladimir Putin and other Russian elites “to attempt to hide and move money and anonymously make use of luxury assets around the globe.”
USTR Announces U.S.-Taiwan Trade Initiative
On June 1, 2022, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, which is “intended to develop concrete ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for our workers and businesses.” Under
BIS Issues Rule for Congressional Notification of Exports of Certain Semiautomatic Firearms
On June 1, 2022, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to adopt a congressional notification requirement for license applications of semiautomatic firearms meeting certain requirements. This final rule is effective on July 18, 2022.
This Final Rule adds a new section
USTR Again Extends Certain China Section 301 Product Exclusions for COVID-19 Response
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
U.S. Government Agencies Issue High Risk Advisory for U.S. Businesses Engaged in Sudan
On May 23, 2022, the U.S. Departments of State, the Treasury, Commerce, and Labor issued a joint advisory for U.S. businesses operating in Sudan. The advisory highlights the risks associated with conducting business with Sudan’s state-owned enterprises (“SOEs”), which are effectively controlled by the Sudanese military since its seizure of power on October 25, 2021.