BIS has published corrections and amendments to the October 25 2023 Semicinductor and Advanced Computing Rules. This rule corrects inadvertent errors in those rules and makes additional clarifications for the two rules. China has expressed strong opposition to the latest U.S. revised rules on semiconductor export rules, saying that it will disrupt the global semiconductor market as well as cooperation between enterprises.
Export Administration is getting a new leadership framework, including the creation of Deputy Assistant Secretary roles for Strategic Trade and Technology Security, under the oversight of the newly elevated Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Borman. The Changes involve dividing EA’s functions into two primary channels: Strategic Trade, focusing on licensing, outreach, and training, and Technology Security, which encompasses defense industrial base (DIB) responsibilities, analysis, and regulatory work.
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod announced four new Enforcement Initiatives at the 2024 Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy. In his plenary address, Mr. Axelrod introduced new guidance for the Freight Forwarder community, an updated compendium of enforcement examples, an antiboycott blacklist, and enhanced outreach to manufacturers and distributors of restricted good discovered on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published a document containing updated guidance and best practices for freight forwarders and exporters who use freight forwarders to help them ensure compliance with U.S. export controls and regulatory requirements.
Swiss commodity broker Trafigura pleaded guilty to crimes related to bribing Brazilian officials of the state owned oil company Petrobras, the Justice Department announced March 28. The $126 million settlement noted the firm's extensive prior misconduct, as well that "Trafigura was slow to exercise disciplinary and remedial measures," and "Trafigura failed to preserve and produce certain documents and evidence in a timely manner and, at times, took positions that were inconsistent with full cooperation."
The Latvian partner of a Kansas avionics distributor has been indicted for his role in a years-long scheme to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, in violation of U.S. export laws. The defendant is the third to be arrested and charged in connection with the conspiracy led by a Kansas company and two U.S. nationals, originally reported on March of 2023
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security 2024 Update Conference kicked off Wednesday to a full house in Washington, with over 1,100 attendees registered and many breakout sessions extended to overflow rooms with video feeds. While Commerce Secretary Gina Raimonda was unable to attend in person, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez greeted attendees with a recap of the work undertaken since the last conference in 2022, and insights on where things are headed.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a Chinese company responsible for a wide range a wide of "malicious cyber operations" targeting high-ranking U.S. government officials including staff at the White House; the Departments of Justice, Commerce, the Treasury, and State; members of Congress, including both Democrat and Republican Senators; the United States Naval Academy; and the United States Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute. The organization also is responsible for cyber attacks on multiple Defense Industrial Base victims, including a defense contractor that manufactured flight simulators for the U.S. military, a Tennessee-based aerospace and defense contractor, and an Alabama-based aerospace and defense research corporation. Additionally, APT 31 actors gained unauthorized access to a Texas-based energy company, as well as a California-based managed service provider.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned thirteen entities and two individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy including persons developing or offering services in virtual assets that enable the evasion of U.S. sanctions. “Russia is increasingly turning to alternative payment mechanisms to circumvent U.S. sanctions and continue to fund its war against Ukraine,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson.
The Commerce Department has announced significant updates to its antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) regulations. In voluminous revisions to the proposed rule of May 2023, Commerce is revising some of its procedures, codifying certain areas of its practice, and enhancing certain areas of its methodologies and analyses to address price and cost distortions, as well as certain countervailable subsidies, in different capacities.
In this final rule, persons blocked under fourteen OFAC sanctions programs will be subject to stringent export controls under the EAR. Each program is listed below with the corresponding sanctions authority and program code or “identifier,” arranged by thematic program to assist understanding. Related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
For the first time in history, the Chiefs of Navy for the AUKUS countries will convene at a public forum during the Indian Ocean Defense & Security Show (IODS) in Perth, scheduled from July 24 - 26, 2024. This forum will focus on discussions regarding AUKUS Pillars 1 & 2, including but not limited to the Nuclear Submarine program. Moreover, it will serve as a platform for AUKUS experts to delve into the opportunities emerging as these nations progress.
Rep.Mike Gallagher (R-WI) the 40 year old former Marine Intelligence officer with a PhD in international relations will leave the House of Representatives after the Easter Recess. Gallagher has found himself at odds with mainstream Republicans, angering his caucus last month by refusing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. When Gallagher steps down, the Republican majority will be 217-213, meaning that Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one vote in order to pass legislation if Democrats remain united in opposition.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted three procurement networks –– based in Iran, Türkiye, Oman, and Germany –– that have supported Iran’s ballistic missile, nuclear, and defense programs. These networks have procured carbon fiber, epoxy resins, and other missile-applicable goods for Iran’s arms proliferation activities.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is revoking, in part, the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells), from the People's Republic of China (China) with respect to certain off-grid small portable crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) panels.
The House passed H.R. 6602, a technical amendment to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 sponsored by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA). This bill revises the interagency dispute resolution process for export license applications.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two individuals and two entities for services they provided the Government of the Russian Federation (GoR) in connection with a foreign malign influence campaign, including attempting to impersonate legitimate media outlets. Specifically, via their companies, SDA and Structura, the two created a sprawling network of over 60 websites that impersonated legitimate news organizations, and which used misleading social media accounts to amplify the content of the spoofed websites.
Nothwithstanding a doubled caseload, antiquated systems, and flat budget for the past ten years, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has been keeping pace, Undersecretary for Industry and Security Alan Estevez told a congressional panel Wednesday. "BIS has been asked to do more in an era of strategic competition where economic statecraft is increasingly central to U.S. interests and strategy. We have risen to every challenge that we have been asked to take on."
In a recent development that could strain U.S.-European Union (EU) relations further, the U.S. has cautioned the EU against reopening a World Trade Organization (WTO) case related to steel and aluminum tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, in closed-door remarks at a G-7 meeting last month, hinted at significant repercussions for the EU's efforts to reform a crucial aspect of multilateral trade cooperation.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Wendy Carolina Morales Urbina, Nicaragua’s Attorney General, for being complicit in the Ortega-Murillo regime’s oppression. In her capacity as Attorney General, Morales Urbina is responsible for enabling the Ortega-Murillo regime to confiscate real property formerly belonging to independent media outlets, international organizations, and political prisoners
