The U.S. this week said it won’t be prosecuting a NASA contractor for export control violations because the organization quickly self-reported the breaches and demonstrated “exceptional and proactive” cooperation with DOJ’s National Security Division. The announcement came after one of the contractor’s employees pleaded guilty to illegally exporting flight control software to a Chinese company on the Entity List and embezzling at least $161,000 in software license sales from those exports.
The EU this week updated its guidance about what types of Russia-related services are prohibited or exempt by sanctions. One new FAQ says EU nationals aren't necessarily barred from working for a Russian company as long as they aren't providing any of the EU's "listed" restricted services or software to the Russian government. "EU persons can still provide all services that are not prohibited in their capacity as employees," the guidance said.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the Commerce Department April 29 to improve its efforts to prevent the illegal diversion of U.S. firearms exports.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., introduced a bill April 28 that would codify former President Joe Biden’s February 2024 executive order allowing the U.S. to sanction those who undermine peace, security and stability in the West Bank.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said April 29 that Azerbaijani officials, including President Ilham Aliyev, should face sanctions for recent human rights abuses, such as a growing number of political prisoners.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned six entities and six people based in Iran and China for their ties to a network that buys ballistic missile propellant ingredients for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. OFAC said the network has specifically provided Iran with sodium perchlorate, which is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, a substance subject to export controls by the multilateral Missile Technology Control Regime. The network has also supplied Iran with dioctyl sebacate, a chemical used in ballistic missiles.
Copa Holdings, the parent company of Latin American airlines Copa Airlines and Wingo, recently disclosed to the U.S. government that it may have violated U.S. sanctions against Cuba.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching for the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Trump administration’s plans to reduce export control cooperation with allies, particularly the EU, could lead to more differences between the two jurisdictions' export systems, especially for controls targeted toward China, lawyers said this week.
James Rockas is no longer with the Bureau of Industry and Security after being appointed by the Trump administration to the position of deputy undersecretary in January, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Rockas left BIS last week and moved to the State Department, a Commerce Department spokesperson confirmed. He was replaced by Joe Bartlett, the BIS legislative affairs director.