Category

Belarus

Category

On 19 August 2020, members of the European Council held a video conference to discuss the situation in Belarus following the presidential election on 9 August 2020. The President of the European Council stated that the elections in Belarus were “neither free nor fair”, did not meet international standards and that the EU did not recognize the results. It was announced that the EU would shortly impose sanctions on a substantial number of individuals responsible…

On June 12, 2018, the Federal Register published Presidential Notice of June 8,2018 – Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions and Policies of Certain Members of the Government of Belarus and Other Persons to Undermine Democratic Processes or Institutions of Belarus continues for additional year the national emergency originally declared on June 16, 2006, by Executive Order (EO) 13405, to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus’s democratic processes or institutions, manifested in the fundamentally undemocratic March 2006 elections; to commit human rights abuses related to political repression, including detentions and disappearances; and to engage in public corruption, including by diverting or misusing Belarusian public assets or by misusing public authority.

On 26 April 2018, the Official Journal published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/640 of 25 April 2018 introducing prior Union surveillance of imports of certain aluminium products originating in certain third countries. The Regulation seeks to address the problem of significant oversupply of aluminium from the PRC and section 232 action by the United States. These activities may lead to substantial trade diversion and price depression on the Union market.

On October 18, 2016, the Department of the Treasury announced that, in consultation and coordination with the Department of State, the Office Assets Control (OFAC) is authorizing by General License 2B transactions involving certain Belarusian entities blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13405.  This license does not generally authorize the release of property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13405.  This authorization expires on April 30, 2017, unless extended or revoked.