The Bureau of Industry and Security recently suspended the export privileges of Thomas Harris, an inmate at a Louisiana federal prison, after he was convicted March 1, 2022, for smuggling firearms from the U.S. to Saint Lucia. BIS said Harris was sentenced to 46 months “confinement,” three years of supervised release and a $1,500 assessment. The agency suspended Harris’ export privileges for 10 years from the conviction date.
The Bureau of Industry and Security added 43 entities to the Entity List this week, including companies conducting various activities that either support China’s military or allow the government to “carry out human rights abuses.” Other entities were added for supporting Pakistan’s ballistic missile program or other weapons capabilities.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection involving its “simple network application process” and “multipurpose application form.” The process and form allows exporters to submit license applications, commodity classification requests, encryption review requests and other “notifications” to BIS. Comments are due Aug. 11.
The Bureau of Industry and Security last week suspended export privileges of Aratos Group, a collection of defense and technology companies in the Netherlands and Greece, and its owner for procuring goods for Russian intelligence services in violation of U.S. export controls. BIS also renewed a temporary denial order against three people and two companies also involved in a Russian sanctions evasion scheme.
The Bureau of Industry and Security again renewed the temporary denial order for Belavia Belarusian Airlines, Belarus' state-owned national airline. BIS first suspended the export privileges of the airline last June (see 2206160015) and again in December 2212150054), barring it from participating in transactions with items subject to the Export Administration Regulations. The agency renewed the denial order for another 180 days on June 7 after finding Belavia continues to illegally operate aircraft subject to the EAR, including for flights between Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on June 7 withdrew a final rule from interagency review that could have expanded its nuclear nonproliferation export controls, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. BIS had sent the rule for review June 5 (see 2306060015). A BIS spokesperson didn’t comment.
The Bureau of Industry and Security will hold its annual update conference Nov. 28-30 in Washington, the agency announced this week. The conference will be in-person only and will feature keynote speakers, plenaries, breakout sessions and live question-and-answer periods with BIS and other agency officials. "Specific details and agenda to come," BIS said.
The State Department’s recently announced debarment of VTA Telecom (see 2305310040) highlights how cooperation with the government can lead to lower penalties, Miller & Chevalier said in a June 6 client alert. Although the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls didn’t “award credit” for VTA's disclosure, it did credit it for cooperating with DDTC’s investigation, which led to a debarment but no fine, the firm said. DDTC could have imposed a maximum $7.2 million penalty against the company.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is working on a new final rule that could expand its nuclear nonproliferation export controls. BIS sent the rule for interagency review June 5, according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
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