On April 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela General License 56, “Authorizing Commercial-Related Negotiations of Contingent Contracts with the Government of Venezuela” (GL 56), and Venezuela General License 57, “Authorizing Financial Services Transactions Involving Certain Venezuelan Banks and Government of Venezuela Individuals” (GL
President Trump Signs Amendment to Export Control Reform Act
On August 19, President Trump signed the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act (H.R. 1316) after the House passed it by voice vote, and the Senate unanimously voted in favor.
The bill amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) by requiring the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
BIS Rescinds Biden Administration’s AI Diffusion Export Control Rule
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced plans on May 13,2025, to rescind the Biden Administration’s AI diffusion export control rule, which was set to take effect on May 15. BIS will issue a formal rescission notice in the Federal Register and plans to introduce a replacement rule in the future. BIS enforcement officials
Update: U.S. Tariffs on Canada Also Paused for 30 Days, China Tariffs Start on February 4
It was announced late on Monday that new U.S. tariffs on Canada will, like Mexico, be paused for 30 days to allow the U.S. and Canada time to negotiate.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion plan to reinforce the U.S.-Canadian border and appointing a Fentanyl Czar, among other things.
At
Update: U.S. Tariffs on Mexico Delayed for One Month
On February 3, President Trump confirmed reports of a one-month pause for the implementation of 25% tariffs on imported products of Mexico, following a conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico during which Sheinbaum agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist with fentanyl interdiction and illegal migration.
This
Trump Follows Through with Sweeping Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China – Who Intend to Retaliate
On Saturday, February 1, 2025, President Trump signed three Executive Orders (“EOs”) following through with the promised tariffs targeting products of Canada, Mexico and China (the “February 1 EOs”), and the White House issued a supporting informational fact sheet.
The United States will impose 25% tariffs on all products of Mexico and Canada
U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions Regulatory Agencies Increase Civil Monetary Penalties for Violations
As of January 15, 2025, Commerce, Energy, State, and Treasury have each published their annual increase in civil monetary penalties for violations of U.S. export controls and sanctions regulations to account for inflation. Below is a summary of the increases for calendar year 2025.
| U.S. Department of Commerce | ||
| EAR Section | 2024 Maximum | |
President Trump’s Executive Orders & Actions – Sanctions
President Trump signed a raft of Executive Orders (E.O.) in the initial days of his new administration, several of which relate to sanctions. Here is an initial run-down:
Designating Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
On January 20, the President signed an executive order that creates a process for cartels and “other transnational organizations such
Parting Shots by Biden Administration in the Form of Sweeping New Russia Sanctions
- On the 10th, OFAC and the State Department aggressively targeted the Russian energy sector by designating major Russian oil companies liquefied natural
BIS Amends Voluntary Self-Disclosure Process and Penalty Guidelines and Adds First-Ever Chief of Corporate Enforcement
On September 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) revising provisions related to the voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) process for persons who believe that they may have violated the EAR, or any order, license or authorization issued thereunder. The