Tag Archives: Department of Treasury

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

The Real Significance of OFAC’s Sanctions Compliance Guidance | Sanctions Webinar on May 16, 2019

On May 2, 2019, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released guidance on effective sanctions compliance programs. While this is the first document of this kind from OFAC, similar guidance documents by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been on the books … Continue Reading

OFAC Reaches Settlement Agreement With e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc.

On January 31, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc. in the amount of US$996,080 for potential civil liability relating to 156 apparent violations of North Korea Sanctions Regulations. The potential violations stem from importation of false eyelash kits from the People’s Republic of … Continue Reading

OFAC Issues New Venezuela-related Executive Order and General Licenses

On January 28, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has designated Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) following Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, after a determination by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo that PdVSA was operating in the Venezuelan oil sector. Additionally, OFAC has amended General License 3 and … Continue Reading

OFAC Issues Venezuela-related General License 6

On January 8, 2019, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 6, which authorizes the winding down of certain specified transactions with Globovision Tele C.A. and Globovision Tele CA, Corp. until January 8, 2020. Additionally, OFAC issued new FAQs for General License 6, and also added several new individuals and entities to … Continue Reading

OFAC Publishes Amended Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations

Effective 28 December 2017, US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended the Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 576, to implement Executive Order (EO) 13668 (“Ending Immunities Granted to the Development Fund for Iraq and Certain Other Iraqi Property and Interests in Property Pursuant to Executive Order 13303, as amended”). … Continue Reading

New Venezuela-Related Frequently Asked Questions

The US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) concerning economic sanctions adopted in August against the Government of Venezuela, under Executive Order (EO) 13808. The first FAQ explains the treatment of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), a state-owned entity, under EO 13808. The second … Continue Reading

US Court of Appeals Reverses OFAC Sanctions Penalty for Iran Transactions

In May, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a rare ruling reversing in part monetary penalties issued by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against California-based automotive electronics supplier Epsilon Electronics Inc. (Epsilon). OFAC issued a Penalty Notice to Epsilon in July 2014 assessing total monetary … Continue Reading
LexBlog