On March 1, 2023, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released President Biden’s 2023 Trade Policy Agenda and 2022 Annual Report. According to the report, the 2023 trade agenda will prioritize creating new opportunities for American workers and families, supporting the middle class, driving decarbonization, and creating good-paying jobs. Additionally, the
Commerce, Justice and the Treasury Issue Joint Compliance Note on Evasion of Russia Sanctions and Export Controls
On March 2, 2023, the Departments of Commerce, Justice and the Treasury issued a joint Compliance Note cautioning financial institutions and multinational companies subject to U.S. jurisdiction to “be vigilant against efforts by individuals or entities to evade sanctions and export control laws.” The Compliance Note emphasizes the “unprecedented scope and scale” of sanctions against
UPDATED: President Biden Issues Proclamations Increasing the Tariff Rates on Russian Aluminum to 200% and Significantly Increasing Rates on Other Russian Products
On the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joseph Biden on February 24, 2023, issued a Proclamation on Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States to implement: (1) effective March 10, 2023, a 200% import tariff on aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles that are the products of Russia, and (2) effective
New Export Control Measures on Iran Address Iranian UAVs and Their Use by Russia in War with Ukraine
On February 24, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Final Rule amending the Export Administrations Regulations (EAR) to impose new export control measures on Iran. These measures address the use of Iranian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (aka, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), aka drones) by Russia in its ongoing
Treasury Issues Determination Adding Russia’s Metal and Mining Sector to E.O. 14024 for Potential Sanctions
On February 24, 2023, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued its latest Russia-related determination expanding its use of sanctions authorities to the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14024. Section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 allows for the
BIS Adds Nearly 100 Russia-Related Entities to Entity List and Tightens Other Export Controls and Lists
On February 24, 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued three Final Rules addressing Russia’s continued war against Ukraine. One rule expands existing industry sector sanctions and export controls already in place toward Russia and Belarus. The other two rules add Russian and third country entities to the Entity List
OFAC and State Department Add Over 200 Russia-Related Individuals and Entities to SDN List
On February 24, 2023, the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Departments of the Treasury and State implemented further economic sanctions against key industry sectors “in order to further degrade Russia’s economy and diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine.” These sanctions are being imposed on over 200 individuals and entities, “including
Department of the Treasury Previews Additional Sanctions on Russia
On February 21, 2023, just a few days before February 24, which marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo spoke on the Biden administration’s “comprehensive strategy to support Ukraine” including ongoing efforts to deny Russia’s ability “to use the money they have to buy the weapons
Treasury Publishes Final Guidance on the Russian Oil Price Cap
On February 3, 2023, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) issued multiple determinations related to the price cap to be set on Russian-origin petroleum products. Treasury also published finalized guidance on the broader price cap policy implemented by the “Price Cap Coalition” – an international coalition that includes the United States, the G7, the European Union
OFAC Publishes Preliminary Guidance on Price Cap to Be Placed on Petroleum Products of Russian Origin
On December 30, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) published preliminary guidance on how the United States will implement a price cap policy on petroleum products of Russian origin. OFAC notes that with this preliminary guidance the agency will likely “take a similar approach for Russian petroleum products as