A Virginia-based technology company said it received warning letters from both the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Office of Foreign Assets Control after disclosing possible Russia-related sanctions violations to both agencies last year.
EU industry gave a wide range of feedback on the European Commission’s January white paper on export controls, saying they support the idea of a new EU-wide forum to coordinate on export restrictions and urged the commission to do more to make sure new controls are introduced evenly across all member states. Others said the EU should set binding deadlines for licensing decisions, fix the bloc’s “vague” export definition for intangible technology transfers, and make it easier for companies to navigate EU member states’ increasingly conflicting export rules.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is updating the scope of an Iran-related general license to limit the computing power threshold for laptops, tablets and other personal computing devices that can be exported or reexported to Iran. The agency also revised its Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations to make “additional conforming changes.”
U.S. companies doing business in Turkey should be “alert” about possible violations of U.S. antiboycott laws after Turkey announced a ban on trade with Israel earlier this month (see 2405030020), the Bureau of Industry and Security said.
The price cap on Russian oil has so far failed to stop Moscow from earning revenue for its war against Ukraine, witnesses told the U.K. Parliament this week. While one witness said the U.K. should consider placing new restrictions on certain energy purchases from companies that are still buying Russian oil, another said that may be too complicated for businesses to comply with.
Australian export compliance officers are wary about a new proposed International Traffic in Arms Regulation exemption for defense trade with the U.S., which is causing some compliance confusion and could lead to a host of “operational challenges” for companies subject to trade regulations, said Eva Galfi, a consultant for International Trade Advisors in Australia. She said the new exemption, along with a similar rule by the Commerce Department to reduce certain license requirements for exports to Australia and the U.K., may also increase the risk of large fines for violations.
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Citing national security concerns, President Joe Biden issued an order May 13 prohibiting China’s MineOne from continuing to operate a cryptocurrency mine near Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Some technology companies and industry groups were supportive of an ongoing effort by the Bureau of Industry’s Security to stop advanced artificial intelligence models from being used by dangerous end-users, but many also said the agency’s proposed know-your-customer regulations for U.S. cloud service providers should be tweaked or rewritten. Others said the new KYC rules could place too heavy a burden on cloud service providers and could undermine trust in American providers.
A bipartisan group of four House members, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, introduced a bill last week that they said would help the Bureau of Industry and Security control exports of artificial intelligence systems and other new national security-related technologies.