The U.S. sanctioned 20 people and entities for supporting Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime and issued a new general license and frequently asked question. The sanctions, announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the State Department Sept. 30, target Assad regime officials, military officials, financiers and their businesses.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control released regulations Sept. 30 to implement a June executive order (see 2006110028) authorizing sanctions against the International Criminal Court. OFAC released the regulations in a final rule effective Oct. 1 in “abbreviated form” to provide “immediate guidance to the public.” The agency said it plans to soon publish a more “comprehensive set of regulations,” which may include guidance on definitions, general licenses and information on licensing policy.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Sept. 25 issued guidance on sanctions against Hong Kong officials and renewed a general license authorizing certain transactions with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (see 2007310028).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control announced new Cuba sanctions and restrictions to limit the use of certain licenses and prohibit a range of activities in Cuba. The sanctions include restrictions on lodging in Cuba, professional research and “public performances.” The changes, outlined in a final rule released Sept. 23, are effective Sept. 24.
The semiconductor industry was surprised by the U.S.’s increased restrictions on Huawei (see 2008170029) and expects significant short-term supply chain disruptions, industry officials and experts said in interviews. Officials also thought the initial version of the rule, issued in May (see 2005150058), was sufficient, and were frustrated that the Bureau of Industry and Security did not ask for feedback on the new requirements.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on Aug. 17 added 38 Huawei affiliates to the Entity List and refined a May amendment to its foreign direct product rule, further restricting Huawei’s access to U.S. technology, the agency said in an Aug. 17 final rule. BIS also modified four existing Huawei entries on the Entity List, amended language in the Export Administration Regulations and said it will continue one cybersecurity-related authorization under its temporary general license for Huawei. The remainder of the license expired Aug. 13.
The Bureau of Industry and Security added 38 Huawei affiliates to the Entity List and refined a May amendment to its foreign direct product rule, further restricting Huawei’s access to U.S. technology. BIS said the direct product rule will now also apply to transactions where U.S. software or technology is “the basis” for a foreign-made item produced or purchased by Huawei, or when a Huawei entity is “a party to such a transaction.” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Huawei "has continuously tried to evade" the previous changes to the foreign direct product rule.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued guidance on its Sudan program and Darfur sanctions and removed and revised Sudan-related FAQs. The guidance, issued Aug. 11, clarifies that U.S. people and companies are no longer subject to OFAC’s Sudanese Sanctions Regulations but may be designated under the agency’s Darfur sanctions or captured by Commerce Department export controls.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade officially removed Hong Kong as an eligible destination under 20 open general export licenses, one open general transhipment license and one open general trade control license, an Aug. 4 notice said. The U.K. also revoked two open general licenses in which Hong Kong was the only destination: a license for exports of certain dual-use goods for nonmilitary use and a license for exports of dual-use goods to any destination in Hong Kong. The moves come about a week after the U.K. imposed an arms embargo against Hong Kong due to interference from Beijing (see 2007230018).
The U.S. on July 31 sanctioned a Chinese state-controlled organization and two Chinese officials for human rights violations in Xinjiang. The sanctions target the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, former XPCC Party Secretary Sun Jinlong and XPCC Deputy Party Secretary Peng Jiarui.