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
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
On March 14, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the creation of a new list specifically sanctioning foreign financial institutions (FFIs).… Continue Reading
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
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
On January 27, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has removed from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list certain information for EN+ Group PLC, JSC Eurosibenergo and United Company RUSAL PLC.… Continue Reading
On January 24, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it has added several individuals and aircraft to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list. It also updated information relating to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.… Continue Reading
On January 16, 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it was extending the expiration dates for the following general licenses related to EN+Group PLC, JSC EuroSibEnergo and United Company RUSAL PLC: General License 13J, General License 14E and General License 16E.… Continue Reading
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
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
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
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