Photo of Laurel Saito

On December 8, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the addition of three People’s Republic of China (“PRC”)-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”) Entity List as part of the ongoing effort to eliminate forced labor practices in U.S. supply chains. The addition of these three entities—COFCO Sugar Holding Co. Ltd

On June 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued a press release reporting formal cooperation amongst the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council (“Five Eyes”) to expand enforcement of export controls.  Five Eyes—an intelligence alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and United States—formalized its cooperation

At the end of December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.  This Act contains a number of discretionary spending acts for different Departments, including the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023.  Per the Senate Committee on Appropriation, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act for FY 2023 includes a total

The U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued a final opinion in Virtus Nutrition LLC’s (“Virtus”) challenge to Customs and Border Protection’s (“CBP”) detention of Malaysian palm oil imports, rejecting Vitrus’ request that the CIT confirm the importer’s right to re-export the shipment.  Please see link to case [here].      

CBP detained the shipment

Yesterday U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its updated  Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Trade Compliance handbook [here].  The handbook provides importers guidance on the internal controls needed to become a CTPAT Trade Compliance member, including guidance on the necessary requirements to ensure forced labor compliance. The CTPAT program provides benefits

New U.S., UK, and EU Designations: On September 30, 2022, the U.S. designated 295 individuals and entities.  The new designations included 14 persons in Russia’s military industrial complex, including Sinno Electronics Co. and Taco LLC, Chinese and Armenian suppliers, for their support of a Russian defense procurement firm.  The U.S. also targeted two Russian

UK Designates 89 Individuals and Three Entities: On September 26, 2022, in response to Russia’s “sham” referendums to annex four Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine, the UK designated an additional 92 individuals and entities.  “Today’s sanctions will target those behind these sham votes, as well as the individuals that continue to prop up

UK Amends Designation of Arkady Rotenberg: On September 16, 2022, the UK replaced the designation entry for Arkady Romanovich Rotenberg.  The new entry description focuses on Mr. Rotenberg’s role in the construction of the Kerch Bridge, and the railway line on the bridge, which stretch from Russia to Crimea.  Mr. Rotenberg was originally designated

Sanctions Designations:

  • U.S. Designates Numerous Individuals and Entities: On September 15, 2022, the U.S. added a number of individuals and entities to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (“SDN”) List.  The sanctions target Russia’s financial system, including the heads of Russia’s state-run card payment system (NSPK), central securities depository, stock exchange’s clearing

Russia Sanctions: This week the European Union designated three additional individuals.  Two of the individuals are members of the Duma who undermined the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine by voting in favor of a resolution regarding the need to recognize the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.  The other sanctioned