On March 20, 2024, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule implementing restrictions under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) on persons who have been designated and placed on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List maintained by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Under Secretary
OFAC
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Russia to Commemorate Second Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
On February 23, 2024, the eve before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine officially enters its third year, the United States issued another sanctions package against Russia, taking particular aim at Russia’s financial sector, energy production revenue streams, and military-industrial complex. Specifically, the package sanctions more than 500 entities and individuals by having them added…
OFAC Extends Authorizations Under Updated Russia General License 83A
On February 20, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) extended Russia-related General License (GL) 83 by issuing a revised version: GL 83A, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof Prohibited by Executive Order 14068.” The modified GL 83A maintains the…
Treasury Releases Semi-Annual List of Countries Requiring Cooperation With International Boycotts
In addition to its role in enforcing U.S. export control laws, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is charged with administering and enforcing the antiboycott laws under the Export Administration Act. These antiboycott laws were adopted to encourage and, in some circumstances, require U.S. companies to refuse to participate in foreign…
OFAC Issues Determinations to Prohibit Import of Russian-Origin Diamonds
On December 22, 2023, President Joseph Biden amended Executive Order (EO) 14068 by additionally authorizing the prohibition on the importation and entry into the United States of diamonds of Russian Federation origin. See Thompson Hine Update of January 2, 2024. The EO required that such a ban be implemented only after the issuance of…
OFAC Issues Oil Price Cap Compliance and Enforcement Alert Recommending Methods to Mitigate Evasion Risks
On February 1, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published an Oil Price Cap Compliance and Enforcement Alert to provide “[a]n overview of [five] key … evasion methods and [corresponding] recommendations for identifying such methods and [subsequently] mitigating their risks and negative impacts.” The price cap referenced by the…
U.S. Announces New Sanctions to Promote Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank
On February 1, 2024, the United States introduced new sanctions to promote peace in the West Bank, targeting recent actions that jeopardize the region’s stability, including attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks against Israelis. This follows the related visa restriction policy announced by the State Department on December 5, 2023.
The sanctions have…
U.S. Re-Designates Ansarallah (aka the Houthis) as a Global Terrorist Group
On January 17, 2024, the Department of State announced that it was re-designating Yemen-based Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group. This designation will be effective as of February 16, 2024, when Ansarallah will be placed on the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)…
OFAC Continues to Extend Venezuela General License Delaying PdVSA 2020 8.5% Bond-Related Authorizations
On January 16, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License (GL) 5N, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond on or After April 16, 2024,” which continues to delay U.S. persons’ ability to enforce bondholder rights to the CITGO…
OFAC Updates its Guidance on the Price Caps on Russian Oil and Russian Petroleum Products
On December 20, 2023, nearly eleven months after publishing its finalized guidance on the implementation of the twin price caps on Russian oil and Russian petroleum products, the Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) published a revised Guidance on Implementation of the Price Cap Policy for Crude Oil and Petroleum Products of Russian Federation Origin. …