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Lise S. Test

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US – OFAC issues FAQs clarifying restrictions on purchasing securities of certain Chinese companies

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During the first two weeks in January, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a series of FAQs related to Executive Order 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies” (the “CCMC EO” or the “EO”). That EO aimed to prevent US investors from financing the development of the People’s Republic of China’s military, intelligence, and security capabilities by prohibiting purchases of securities of certain “Communist Chinese military companies.” Our prior blog…

US – BIS adds a “Military End User List” to the EAR consisting of 102 Chinese and Russian entities

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On December 23, 2020, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding a new “Military End User List” (MEU List) as supplement no. 7 to part 744 of the EAR. The final rule adds 102 entities to the MEU List, which will consist of Chinese, Russian, and Venezuelan entities that the US Government has determined are “military end users” for purposes…

Commerce amends National Security License Review Policy for items destined to China, Russia, and Venezuela

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On October 29, 2020, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule (the “final rule”) amending the license review policy under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) for items controlled for national security (“NS”) reasons when destined to China, Russia, or Venezuela. The amendments add Venezuela to the list of countries to which the policy applies and modify the policy to replace the reference to military capabilities with a new, more nuanced standard…

US – OFAC designates additional Iranian persons; issues General License 8A to cover humanitarian transactions involving NIOC

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On October 26, 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated additional Iranian individuals, entities and vessels to the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (the “SDN” List) pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (as amended) (EO 13224), a counter-terrorism authority, for their support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), an entity designated under EO 13224. Among the designated entities are the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, the National Iranian Oil…

US – BIS extends comment period for Foundational Technologies until November 9

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On October 9, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) extended the comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on criteria of “foundational technologies.” Comments may now be submitted through November 9, 2020; two weeks after the original deadline of October 26. BIS also clarified it will accept confidential business information from commenters. Filers submitting confidential information should clearly identify the confidential portion at the time of the submission and must…

US – Commerce suspends license exceptions for Hong Kong that provide differential treatment relative to China

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On July 31, 2020, the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to suspend the availability of all License Exceptions for Hong Kong that provide differential treatment relative to mainland China. Our blog post on prior steps taken to revoke preferential treatment for Hong Kong, including the initial announcement of these suspensions, is available here. The following partial or full License Exceptions are no longer available for exports…

Trump Administration revokes preferential treatment Hong Kong and authorizes additional Hong Kong sanctions

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On July 14, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong Normalization (the “Hong Kong Normalization EO”), which directs the suspension or elimination of special and preferential treatment for Hong Kong under a wide range of US laws, setting the stage for Hong Kong to be treated the same as mainland China. It also authorizes sanctions against persons involved in developing, adopting, or implementing China’s Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong…

US – OFAC releases FAQs providing guidance on the Iran Sectoral Sanctions in Executive Order 13902

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On June 5, 2020, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published four Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Iran-related sanctions under Executive Order 13902 (EO 13902). EO 13902 authorizes the imposition of secondary sanctions targeting the Iranian construction, mining, manufacturing, and textile sectors and persons engaged in “significant transactions” or providing “material support” to parties designated pursuant to the order. Our blog post regarding EO 13902 is available here. The FAQs reconfirm that Iranian manufacturers of medicines,…