On July 22 and again on July 30, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several Cuban individuals and entities in connection with actions to suppress peaceful, pro-democratic protests in Cuba that began on July 11, 2021. According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, “The Cuban people are protesting
OFAC and Online Money Transmitter Enter Settlement Agreement for Apparent Violations of U.S. Sanctions
On July 23, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a settlement agreement with Payoneer Inc. (“Payoneer”), a publicly traded New York-based online money transmitter and provider of prepaid access. Payoneer agreed to pay a civil penalty of approximately $1.4 million to settle its potential liability for 2,260 apparent…
OFAC Issues General License Extending Delay of PdVSA 2020 8.5% Bond-Related Authorizations
On July 20, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has issued General License (GL) 5G, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond on or After October 21, 2021,” which continues to delay U.S. persons’ ability to enforce…
U.S. Government Issues Hong Kong Business Advisory
On July 16, 2021, the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security and the Treasury issued a Hong Kong Business Advisory highlighting growing risks for U.S. companies operating in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to ongoing actions taken by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (China). The advisory states that…
BIS Adds Six Russian Entities to the Entity List
On July 19, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule adding six Russian entities to the Entity List after having been determined to be “acting contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States.” The entities are:
- Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo AST;
- Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Pasit;
- Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Pozitiv
…
OFAC Issues General License 40 Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving the Export of LP Gas to Venezuela
On July 12, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 40, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving the Exportation or Reexportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas to Venezuela.” This general license authorizes all transactions and activities related to the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of liquefied petroleum…
OFAC Removes International Criminal Court-Related Sanctions Regulations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a final rule to remove the International Criminal Court-Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 520, from the Code of Federal Regulations. OFAC is taking this action after the national emergency upon which these sanctions were based was terminated by President Biden…
OFAC Sanctions Belarusian Individuals and Entities; Issues Belarus General License No. 3
On June 21, 2021, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 16 individuals and five entities in response to the Lukashenko regime’s escalating violence and repression. The persons are all closely associated with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and, according to an OFAC press statement, “have harmed the people of Belarus through their activities…
OFAC Authorizes Certain Activities in Iran, Syria and Venezuela to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic
On June 17, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued three general licenses related to the sanctions programs of Iran (General License N), Syria (General License 21) and Venezuela (General License 39), “Authorizing Certain Activities to Respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)…
OFAC Again Issues Venezuela General License to Continue Authorization of Limited Transactions Involving PdVSA and Winding Down of Operations for Certain Entities
On June 1, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 8H, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for the Limited Maintenance of Essential Operations in Venezuela or the Wind Down of Operations in Venezuela for Certain Entities.” This general license continues to…
