Export Controls & Sanctions

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China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law

On June 10, 2021, the People’s Republic of China adopted the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law (the “Law”). The main purpose of the Law is to provide a legal basis for China to adopt retaliatory measures against any so-called “discriminatorily restrictive measures” that may be imposed by foreign countries against Chinese organizations and citizens (the “Foreign Sanctions”).… Continue Reading

UPDATE: The Latest on EU Export Controls of Dual Use Goods – Regulation Published

The new EU regulation on export control of dual use goods has been published in the EU official journal. It means that the upgraded controls over exports of dual use items will enter into force on September 9, 2021. Continue reading below our previous analysis of the details of this new regulation and all changes … Continue Reading

Biden New EO on Chinese Military Companies Creates New Substantive Test for Listing

On June 3, 2021, US President Joseph Biden issued Executive Order 14032, “Addressing the Threat From Securities Investments that Finance Certain Companies of the People’s Republic of China” (EO 14032), substantially amending the prohibitions originally contained in Executive Order 13959 (EO 13959), issued by President Trump on November 12, 2020 (amended January 13, 2021).… Continue Reading

UK Launches Corruption Sanctions Regime with First Listings

UPDATE:  Since our last post below, on April 26, the UK introduced its new global anti-corruption sanctions regime. This sanctions regime follows other EU and UK sanctions regimes and is based on two types of sanctions imposed on listed individuals, i.e., assets freeze and travel ban. On the same day, the UK government also announced … Continue Reading

Biden Administration Expands Russia Sanctions

On April 15, 2021, the US announced a marked expansion of sanctions against Russia and President Biden issued a new Executive Order authorizing the imposition of yet more sanctions. The sanctions include restrictions on certain transactions involving Russian sovereign debt, as well as the designation of 46 individuals and entities implicated in Russia’s annexation of Crimea, foreign … Continue Reading

BIS Implements Burmese Sanctions

On February 10, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14014, “Blocking Property With Respect to the Situation in Burma,” which authorized the imposition of sanctions.  In the EO, the President declared a national emergency to address the threat following a February 1, 2021 military coup in Burma, whereby the military overthrew the democratically-elected government and … Continue Reading

March EU Sanctions Updates

On 3 March, the Council of the EU decided to prolong sanctions against individuals responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state fund. On 12 March, the Council of the EU decided to extend sanctions against those involved in compromising Ukraine’s territorial integrity. On 12 March, the Council of the EU decided to revoke the sanctions … Continue Reading

BIS Amends the EAR to Implement 2019 Wassenaar Plenary Agreements

On March 29, 2021, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to reflect the remaining approved 2019 changes to the dual-use controls adopted during the 2019 Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary Meetings. … Continue Reading

New Restrictions on Military-Intelligence End Use and End User

On January 15, 2021, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published an Interim Final Rule imposing new restrictions requiring licenses for certain transactions involving “military-intelligence end uses” or “military-intelligence end users” in China, Russia, Venezuela or a country listed in Country Group E:1 or E:2. It is important to note … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade Week in Rewind (Week of February 1, 2021)

In the week of February 1, 2021, here are key developments in transatlantic trade: The EU’s COVID-19 vaccine export control mechanism is unable to escape ongoing criticism and a proposal was raised that would invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, increasing UK-EU tension Lawmakers in the US attempt to move the “American Rescue … Continue Reading

This Week in Transatlantic Trade

This week in transatlantic trade: Countries on both sides of the Atlantic are accelerating their efforts to stave off the spread of the COVID-19 variants by speeding up vaccination and adding travel restrictions The EU intends to increase export transparency on COVID experimental vaccines produced within its boundaries; and the European Commission is going to … Continue Reading

Department of Commerce Takes Action Against Avnet Asia for Involvement in Illegally Transshipping Sensitive U.S. Commodities to China and Iran

On January 29, 2021, Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced an Administrative Settlement of $3.2 million (partially suspended) with Singapore-based Avnet Asia Pte. Ltd. (Avnet Asia), a global distributor of electronic components and related software.… Continue Reading

Indonesian Company Admits To Deceiving U.S. Banks In Order To Trade With North Korea

PT Bukit Muria Jaya (“BMJ”), a global supplier of cigarettes, has agreed to pay a fine of more than $1.5 million and to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for conspiracy to commit bank fraud in connection with the shipment of products to North Korean customers.… Continue Reading

China MOFCOM Issues First Order of 2021 – Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Applications of Foreign Laws

On Saturday 9 January 2021, the PRC Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued MOFCOM Order No. 1 of 2021 on Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Applications of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures (the Rules). The Rules specify that they were formulated pursuant to the PRC National Security Law for the express purpose of “counteracting the impact … Continue Reading

What are International Sanctions?

What are international sanctions? What are primary and secondary sanctions? What are extraterritorial effects and how will that impact multinational operations? The changing international sanctions regulations produce dizzying regulatory landscape, and complex as well as confusing compliance environment. To help lift the curtain a bit on this topic, Trade Practitioner José María Viñals (partner, Madrid/Brussels), also … Continue Reading

Trump Flexes Executive Muscle to Address Chinese Military Threat

On November 12, 2020, the President signed an Executive Order (EO) on “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies.”  The EO generally prohibits any transaction in publicly traded securities, or any securities that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to such securities, of any Chinese military … Continue Reading
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