The U.S. extended a national emergency authorizing certain sanctions against Russia, the White House said April 9. The White House said Russian efforts to undermine U.S. democratic elections, to “facilitate malicious cyber-enabled activities," to influence foreign governments, and more continue to threaten U.S. national security. The emergency was renewed for one year beyond April 15.
The U.S. has no plans to remove sanctions from Iranian technology company ArvanCloud (see 2306020020) after it was delisted by the EU earlier this month, a State Department spokesperson said.
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The Treasury Department has asked lawmakers to approve a series of proposals to help it counter terrorist groups and other bad actors that increasingly use cryptocurrency to evade financial sanctions, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said April 9.
The Bureau of Industry and Security will add 11 parties to the Entity List for trying to ship or procure export-controlled items for Russia, Iran or to support China’s military modernization efforts, the agency said April 10. The additions include technology companies, logistics firms and one person based in either China, Russia or the United Arab Emirates. Effective April 11, the companies are subject to license requirements for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, and licenses will be reviewed either under a presumption of denial or policy of denial, except for certain food or medicine.
Japan issued new Russia trade restrictions, including new export controls and an import ban on certain diamonds, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced, according to an unofficial translation. The measures will take effect April 17 and include export bans on mineral fuels and oils, automotive engine oil, inorganic chemicals and precious metals, plastics, steel products and their parts, tungsten powder, base metal products, boilers and machinery, electrical equipment, yachts and other recreational vessels and optical equipment.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is drafting a rule that could ease certain export restrictions on Australia and the U.K. as the State Department works to loosen similar restrictions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations as part of the AUKUS partnership.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week threatened sanctions against Chinese banks if they facilitate payments that aid Russia’s military and urged Beijing against placing unclear restrictions on sales from certain U.S. chip companies, saying American firms want more transparency in China.
David Laufman, former chief of DOJ’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, is retiring, he announced on LinkedIn last week. Laufman was most recently a partner with Wiggin and Dana (see 1905140075) after leaving DOJ in 2018, where he oversaw the agency’s export control and sanctions investigations and prosecutions.
The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on April 2 released a blog post covering compliance with financial sanctions in the maritime sector. The agency listed six tips to stay compliant with the sanctions, including understanding your "counterparties" and conducting "thorough due diligence." OFSI also called for "robust compliance policies and procedures" and to invest in "technology and screening tools." Companies should also conduct "ongoing training and awareness programs," stay informed about new sanctions and create environments for "collaboration and information sharing."