On November 13, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (“Treasury’s”) Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) updated its FAQs for insurers in a long-awaited move to modernize its published sanctions compliance guidance for the insurance industry. None of the industry-specific FAQs had been updated since January 2015, and many had not been amended in
Sanctions
OFAC Publishes Guidance on Extended Statute of Limitations
On July 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) released guidance (“Guidance”) on how it will implement the new authority it was granted in the April 24, 2024 National Security Supplemental (“the Act”). The Act extended the statute of limitations for civil, criminal, and forfeiture violations of sanctions…
Pressure Rising: New U.S. and UK Sanctions and Export Controls Increase Risks for Lingering Russia Exposure, Indirect Evasion in the Supply Chain, and IT Support for Russia Operations
An overview on new Russian sanctions and export controls issued by the U.S. (OFAC and BIS) and the UK focusing on the Russian financial, military, and LNG industries.
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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…
Commerce, Treasury, DOJ Publish Tri-Seal Sanctions and Export Control Compliance Note
On March 6, 2024, the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Justice published a Tri-Seal Compliance Note titled “Obligations of foreign-based persons to comply with U.S. sanctions and export control laws” (the “Note”). The Note stresses that U.S. persons are not the only entities subject to U.S. sanctions and…
BIS/OFAC Announce New Sanctions and Entity List Designations on Two-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Feb. 23, 2024–Today, following the death of opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Aleksey Navalny, and after two years of Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed additional export restrictions on 93 entities under 95 entries in Russia and seven other destinations. Sixty-three of the…
Venezuelan Sanctions: Relaxations in Jeopardy
Earlier this week, the U.S. government partially re-implemented certain recently relaxed sanctions against Venezuela. According to a statement released by the United States Department of State on January 30th, the absence of meaningful progress in allowing candidates of the opposition Unitary Platform to stand for office in the upcoming Venezuelan presidential election has…
Joint Agency Guidance to Exporters on Iran’s UAV Activities
Last Friday, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, and the Treasury issued a joint guidance sheet on Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) program (the “Iran UAV Guidance”). The Iran UAV Guidance highlighted (I) the threat Iran’s UAV program poses; (II) the key items that Iran relies on to expand its UAV program; (III) the…
Sanctions/Export Highlights [As of August 4, 2022]
EU Designates Viktor Yanukovych and His Son: On August 2, 2022, the EU designated the former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. Viktor Yanukovych was pro-Russia when he was president, and a Ukrainian court later found him guilty of treason. He currently resides in Russia, and the EU alleged him to be involved in a…
Sanctions/Export Highlights [As of July 21, 2022]
New UK Sanctions: On July 21, 2022, the UK introduced a new tranche of restrictions in the 14th amendment to its Russian Sanctions Regulations. Several of the new restrictions are detailed below.
The UK prohibited UK persons from directly or indirectly providing accounting services, business and management consulting services, and public relations services to…