The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 10:
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security slapped a one-year probation on Air Bashkortostan, a Russian airline, over 2009 violations of the Export Administration Regulations involving aircraft reexports from Russia to Iran (here). BIS alleged the airline reexported four U.S.-origin Boeing 757 aircraft, valued at $4.5 million. The airline reportedly ceased operations in 2013 (here), but BIS threatened to impose a $350,000 fine if the airline violates the EAR during the probationary period. If no violations are committed, BIS pledged to waive the penalty. The agency prohibited Air Bashkortostan from participating in any commodity, software or technology exports from the U.S. that are subject to the EAR. That prohibition includes applying for, obtaining or using any license, license exception or export control document.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security updated (here) the Export Administration Regulations to comply with President Barack Obama’s executive action to renew those controls in early August (here). The Export Administration Act last lapsed in 2001, so the president annually invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to extend the controls. The BIS updates to the EAR are technical and do not change the text or application of the controls.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 2:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Sept. 1:
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security corrected a February final rule to ensure certain consumer communications devices and related software are eligible for temporary export and reexport to Sudan (here). “BIS is publishing this rule to facilitate use of employerowned devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi-equipped computers and tablets by persons engaged in humanitarian efforts in Sudan,” the agency said. The rule takes effect on Sept. 2. The previous final rule, which published concurrently with a Treasury Department rule, paved the way for the U.S. to consider telecommunications exports to Sudan on a case-by-case basis, rather than a policy of denial (see 1502170033). The rule authorized the Consumer Communications Devices license exception for Sudan.
The Commerce Department added 29 companies under 33 entries to the Entity List (here). The list, administered by Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, informs the public of entities that have allegedly engaged in activities that could facilitate the spread of weapons of mass destruction. BIS requires license for exports to these entities, but the agency typically denies license requests. License exceptions for transactions with companies and individuals on the Entity List are very rare, the agency says.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Aug. 27:
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Aug. 24-25:
The Department of Defense will now provide “security of supply arrangements” for U.S. persons seeking assistance in priority delivery from Spain involving DOD-authorized contracts, subcontracts or specific orders, said the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security in a final rule (here). The Defense Priorities and Allocations System Regulations provides that assistance to a small list of other countries, which includes Australia, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. DOD only provides “security of supply” services for “an approved national defense and/or energy program,” BIS said in the rule. Once a program is approved, the Bureau of Industry and Security (or another agency to which BIS has delegated authority) may place priority ratings on certain contracts,” said BIS. “These ratings effectively expedite contractual performance to support the approved program.”