Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), enacted on August 2, 2017, mandates that the president must impose certain sanctions on persons the president determines knowingly engage in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of
Russia
Department of Homeland Security Bans Use of Russian Security Software
Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Elaine Duke has issued a Binding Operational Directive (BOD 17-01) directing federal executive branch departments and agencies to take actions related to the use or presence of information security products, solutions and services supplied directly or indirectly by AO Kaspersky Lab or related entities. The directive…
OFAC Sanctions Chinese and Russian Entities and Individuals Supporting North Korea
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated 16 Chinese and Russian entities and individuals for activities related to the support of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. These sanctions intentionally target third-country companies and individuals that (1) assist already-designated persons who support North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, (2) deal…
President Trump Signs Into Law H.R. 3364 Regarding Sanctions Against Iran, Russia and North Korea
Today, President Trump signed into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which strengthens and expands statutory sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea. In a statement released by the White House, the president said, “I favor tough measures to punish and deter bad behavior by the rogue regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang. I…
House Passes Bill for Additional Sanctions Against Iran, Russia and North Korea
On July 25, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would impose additional sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. The bill would increase sanctions on those involved in Iran’s human rights abuses, its support for terrorism, as well as its ballistic missile program. For Russia, the bill would ensure that existing economic sanctions remain…
OFAC and BIS Designate Additional Individuals and Entities Under the Ukraine/Russia-Related Sanctions
On June 20, 2017, pursuant to four executive orders (EOs), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) subjected to U.S. economic sanctions more individuals and entities involved in the ongoing Crimean conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These actions…
Senate Passes Bill for Additional Sanctions Against Iran and Russia
After several months of negotiations in the Committee on Foreign Relations, the full Senate on June 15, 2017 considered and passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 98-2 seeking to hold both Iran and Russia accountable for their recent destabilizing activities in world affairs. S. 722 at Title I contains the Iran component of…