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 Bureau of Industry and Security published a new set of frequently asked questions for its recently updated semiconductor export controls (see 2310170055), offering guidance on the agency’s new export notification requirement, its controls on U.S. persons activities, the scope of its end-use controls, direction for electronic export information filers and more. The FAQs also give input on several export scenarios that may require a license and preview at least one export control revision that BIS plans to make.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top 20 stories published in 2023. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.
The Netherlands “partially revoked” an ASML export license that allowed the Dutch chip equipment maker to send certain advanced semiconductor equipment to China, ASML said Jan. 1. The company said it now faces new restrictions on exports of NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems to China, which it said will affect a “small number” of customers in the country.
The U.K. on Dec. 28 updated its Haiti sanctions guidance to reflect the October renewal by the U.N. Security Council of an arms embargo against the country (see 2310240072). The U.K. said under certain cases it may grant certain export licenses for weapons shipments to Haiti, or licenses for a U.N. or U.N.-authorized mission to the country that is intended to “further the objectives of peace and stability in Haiti.”
South Korea sanctioned eight people from North Korea in response to its long-range ballistic missile launch Dec. 18, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, according to an unofficial translation. The people have generated revenue for the North Korean government or have aided the country's weapons programs, South Korea said, including by helping it buy and finance nuclear weapons and missiles, steal technology and trade in sanctioned materials, including weapons. South Korea said some also have been involved in "illegal cyber activities."
Switzerland brought its Russia sanctions regime in line with the EU's by adopting the bloc's 12th sanctions package following Russia's invasion of Ukraine (see 2312180070), Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs announced. The sanctions package adds 61 people and 86 entities to the list and implements a phased ban on Russian diamonds, though the secretariat noted that there are no longer any direct diamond imports from Russia to Switzerland since the invasion.
Japan sanctioned three members of Hamas on Dec. 26, the Ministry of Finance announced, according to an unofficial translation. They are Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa.
The Market Choice Act, which would end fuel taxes while imposing a carbon tax, was reintroduced in the House of Representatives this month by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Salud Carbajal, D-Calif. The bill, an acronym for "Modernizing America with Rebuilding to Kickstart the Economy of the Twenty-first Century with a Historic Infrastructure-Centered Expansion Act," would require domestic producers to pay a price for carbon, and also would place a tariff on imports if those countries don't have equivalent carbon taxes. It would provide a rebate to manufacturing exporters and sectors that process ores, soda ash and phosphate. It wouldn't cover mining and fossil fuel extraction.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned one person and three entities involved in helping Iran finance the Houthis, the political and military group in Yemen that has launched attacks in recent weeks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea.