The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security will now consider approval for U.S. telecommunications exports to Sudan on a case-by-case basis, rather than keeping in place the agency’s previous policy of denial for such exports (here). BIS will also expand the Consumer Communications Devices license exception for U.S. telecommunications exports to the Sudanese private sector, BIS said in a final rule. The CCD license exception, authorized in 2009 but restricted to exports to Cuba (here), will cover shipments to Sudan beginning Feb. 18. Most of the items covered under the CCD don’t require licenses for export to most countries, said BIS in the final rule. The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a concurrent final rule amending the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (here).
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added an individual and entity to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Feb. 17 (here).
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security leveled sanctions on trade and transactions with Crimea, the region Russia absorbed from Ukraine at the outset of 2014 (here). This final rule, effective Jan. 29, amends the Export Administration Regulations to require licenses for all exports and reexports to Crimea and transfers within the region, aside from food and medicines already permitted through the EAR. All such trade is now subject to a presumption of denial from Commerce, but the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will still consider requests on a case-by-case basis, said the final rule. OFAC previously warned all U.S. companies to wrap up dealings with Crimea by the end of January (see 1412310011). President Barack Obama took executive action to eliminate trade with Crimea in December (see 1412190048).
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added individuals and deleted several entries on the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 27 (here).
The State Department named 'Abdallah al-Ashqar a Specially Designated Foreign Terrorist (here). State previously said al-Ashqar is a Palestinian militant loyal to the Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, a sanctioned group (here). The designation includes prohibitions against knowingly providing, attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources or engaging in transactions with the individual. The designations also freeze all property and interests of the entity in the U.S. or in the control of U.S. citizens. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control put al-Ashqar on the Specially Designated Nationals List on Jan. 14 (see 1501150021).
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added two individuals and one entity to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 16 over Kingpin Act violations (here).
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added one entry to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 14 over counter-terrorism concerns (here).
The Obama administration unveiled much-anticipated regulatory changes to U.S. trade, financial and travel policy, in final rules from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (here) and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (here) that take effect on Jan. 16. Obama announced the executive action to slash some Cuba trade and travel barriers in December (see 1412170032). The White House praised the Jan. 15 measures as critical to moving beyond a decades-old Cuba policy that has failed to benefit U.S. interests (here).
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added one entry to the Specially Designated Nationals list on Jan. 13 over counter-terrorism concerns (here).
CBP summarized the new features added to the Automated Commercial Environment after the most recent deployment on Jan. 3. The update includes new capabilities for manifest, cargo release, accounts and revenue and exports, CBP said in a CSMS message (here). CBP also added features "in support of the integration of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) into the Single Window," it said.