Tag Archives: sanctions

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

UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) Updates Financial Sanctions

OFSI, part of the HM Treasury, working toward ensuring that financial sanctions are properly implemented and enforced in the UK, has updated numerous financial sanctions that are currently in force. The recent updates are for financial sanctions in the following regions and industries: ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Organizations Nicaragua Venezuela Central African Republic Ukraine – Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity Syria Libya … Continue Reading

EU Publishes Regulation Concerning Restrictive Measures in Nicaragua

On October 14, 2019, the EU published a regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua. The EU sanctions target persons and entities responsible for human rights violations or abuses, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, as well as persons and entities whose actions, policies or activities otherwise undermine democracy and the rule of … Continue Reading

Advice for Chinese Companies: How to Cope with Strengthened US Export Controls and CFIUS – Seminars in Shanghai and Beijing – October 2019

Keep US Open to Chinese Business: 维持一个对华企业开放的美国: How to Cope With Strengthened US Export Controls and CFIUS 应对日趋严格的美国出口管制和CFIUS审查的实务指南 Friday, October 11, 2019 – Shanghai (2019 年10月11日,周五 – 上海) Tuesday, October 15, 2019 – Beijing (2019 年10月15日,周二 – 北京)… Continue Reading

OFAC Releases CAATSA Reports to Congressional Committees

On 29 January 2018, OFAC announced that it released five reports to Congressional Committees pursuant to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA). The reports include (1) Section 241: Report on Senior Foreign Political Figures and Oligarchs in the Russian Federation; (2) Section 104(e): Report on Contributions to Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program; … Continue Reading

Trump Administration Announces Extension of Waivers of Iran Sanctions

In a statement issued 12 January 2018, President Trump announced that his administration was extending the waivers of certain secondary sanctions against Iran originally adopted on implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump stated that the move not to reinstate sanctions against Iran is to allow for … Continue Reading

Brexit: Developments in Parliament on UK Trade and Sanctions Bills

The UK Trade Bill continued to be debated in the House of Commons with a second reading taking place on 9 January 2018. One of the main contributions of the bill is the establishment of the UK Trade Remedies Authority, an institution responsible for investigations into trade remedies, a responsibility currently assigned to the European … Continue Reading

UK Implements EU’s Venezuela Sanctions Regime

On 6 December 2017, the Venezuela (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 entered into force in the UK. This regulation implements Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November 2017 and provides for the imposition of restrictive measures on persons or entities considered to be involved in undermining democratic principles and the rule of law, as … Continue Reading

Four Non-EU Countries Align With EU Sanctions Against Russia

On 31 January 2018, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced that Montenegro, Albania, Norway and Ukraine had aligned themselves with EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2426. They have, therefore, extended a part of the sanctions imposed on Russia in relation to its violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity … Continue Reading

EU Extends Asset-Freezing Sanctions in Connection to Situation in Tunisia

The EU extended asset-freezes against persons provided in Council Decision 2011/72/CFSP and in Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 who are considered to be responsible for the misappropriation of Tunisian State funds. On 29 January 2018, the sanctions were extended until 31 January 2019 (See Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/141 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/137).… Continue Reading

EU Extends Its Sanctions on the Democratic Republic of Congo

On 11 December 2017, the Council extended its current sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) until 12 December 2018. These sanctions were adopted in response to the obstruction of the electoral process and the related human rights violations in DRC (See Council (CFSP) Decision 2017/2282). EU Candidate Countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania, … Continue Reading

EU Adds Seven Venezuelan Officials to Restrictive Measures List

On 22 January 2018, the EU froze the assets of seven Venezuelan officials, notably including the Minister for Interior, the head of the Intelligence Service, the head of the National Electoral Council and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice. These individuals are considered by the EU to be “involved in the non-respect of … Continue Reading

EU Amends Restrictive Measures on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

On 8 January 2018, the EU aligned its North Korea sanctions list with part of UN Security Council Resolution 2397 adopted on 22 December 2017. Sixteen persons and one entity, the Ministry of the People‘s Armed Forces, have been added to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions (See Council … Continue Reading

Part of EU Sanctions on Russia Extended Through July 2018

On 21 December 2017, the Council of the European Union prolonged sanctions targeting sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2018 (See Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2426). The restrictive measures include limited access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for certain Russian banks and companies, an export and import ban on trade in arms, … Continue Reading
LexBlog