On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would not prosecute the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) for alleged violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This marks the DOJ’s second declination in the last twelve months under the National Security Division’s (NSD) Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD VSD Policy)
OFAC Issues New Syria General License and Updates FAQs
On January 6, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License 24, which authorizes transactions with governing institutions in Syria and certain activities related to energy and personal remittances. OFAC explained it issued General License 24 in light of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and
OFAC Extends Recordkeeping Requirements from 5 to 10 Years Through Interim Final Rule
On September 11, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it is seeking comments on a new interim final rule amending OFAC’s Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations to extend recordkeeping requirements from five to ten years. While OFAC is seeking comments within 30 days, the interim final rule
OFAC Issues Notice for New Reporting Requirements for Financial Institutions Under the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act
On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a notice about new reporting requirements (the OFAC Reporting Notice) under the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act (REPO for Ukrainians Act). As discussed in our previous client alert, the REPO for Ukrainians Act authorizes
OFAC Sanctions Shadow Banking Network for Iran Military
On June 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned almost 50 entities and individuals comprising an expansive “shadow banking” network used by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to gain access to the international financial system, and added
New Antiboycott Advisory on Türkiye
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) issued an advisory regarding the Turkish government’s announcement that it will “suspend all exports and imports to and from Israel until the Israeli government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The
U.S. Tightens Sanctions on Russia, Now Targeting Companies Based in China
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it issued new sanctions on nearly 200 entities and individuals for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, intensifying U.S. efforts to thwart Russia’s attempts to circumvent Western sanctions. The list includes more than a dozen of companies
Aid and Sanctions: Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Aid Bill Expands U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Authorities
The latest U.S. foreign aid bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan enacted on April 24, 2024 enhances U.S. sanctions and export controls including expanding (1) the statute of limitations for sanctions violations; (2) the President’s authority to coordinate sanctions efforts with the European Union and the United Kingdom; (3) sanctions and export controls on Iran
White House Issues Executive Order to Limit the Transfer of Certain Sensitive U.S. Data to Countries of Concern
On Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern (the “EO”). The purpose of the EO is to restrict the mass transfer of certain types of Americans’ personal data to, and to curb
OFAC issues Russia-related General License 83A
On February 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License (GL) 83A, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof Prohibited by Executive Order 14068.”
On March 11, 2022, President Biden issued EO 14068 to prohibit, among other