On December 5, 2023, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed sanctions on numerous entities and individuals in order to place additional pressure on both Belarus and Russia. The OFAC sanctions focus on Belarus’ “authoritarian regime” and for its
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OFAC, State and BIS Announce Further Sanctions on Companies Supporting Russia’s War Efforts
On November 2, 2023, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced a combined effort to designate and sanction numerous additional Russian individuals and entities who have been determined to be assisting in the war against…
Commerce Issues Further Export Controls Targeting China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Computing Capabilities
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BIS Halts New Licenses for Firearm Exports
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Posted in BIS, Export Control
On October 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an immediate pause on the issuance of new export licenses for certain firearms, related components and ammunition for a period of approximately 90 days. This pause applies globally to all non-governmental end users with some exceptions, notably for Ukraine, Israel and countries in Country Group…
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Section 232 Steel Appeal
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Posted in BIS, Section 232 (Steel)
On October 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear another Section 232 national security steel tariff appeal. On July 21, 2023, PrimeSource Building Products, Inc. filed Petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the lower court decision of…
BIS Adds 13 Chinese Companies to Entity List for Involvement in Developing Advanced Computing Chips
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On October 17, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule adding two Chinese entities and their subsidiaries (a total of 13 entities) to the Entity List due to their involvement in the development of advanced computing chips and having been found to be engaged in activities contrary…
BIS Continues to Focus on and Sanction Entities Providing Support to Russia’s Military and Defense Industries
On October 6, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added 49 entities from China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom to the Entity List after determining that these companies were “acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United…
U.S., UK and EU Announce Updated List of Controlled “High-Priority” Items Restricted for Export to Russia
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On September 19, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced additional items considered significant to Russian weaponry and are now restricted for export to both Russia and Belarus. In coordination with the United Kingdom and European Union, BIS continues to identify “high-priority items” by their six-digit Harmonized System (HS)…
BIS Proposes Changes to the Section 232 Imported Steel and Aluminum Product Exclusion Process
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On August 28, 2023, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a proposed rule to revise the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff exclusion process. The proposed rule responds to public comments received in response to BIS’s February 2022 Request for Public Comments. By proposing further revisions to the exclusion request process, BIS…
BIS Issues Policy Memo to Strengthen Antiboycott Reporting and Compliance
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On July 26, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security published an internal policy memorandum announcing two new measures the Office of Antiboycott Compliance will implement to enhance enforcement efforts and diminish participation by U.S. companies in boycott-related activities. The two announced enhancements are:
- The Boycott Reporting Form has been amended to