A U.S. network equipment company may have illegally supplied products to a sanctioned Russian firm, the company said in a recent SEC filing. Extreme Networks said a former employee who now works for a Russian distributor sought to sell its products to MMZ Avangard, a state-owned military firm. Extreme Networks said it’s conducting an internal investigation and has “notified” U.S. regulators.
The Federal Maritime Commission should exclude non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCC) from the scope of a rule that could define a set of factors the commission will consider when determining whether a carrier is violating certain shipping regulations, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said. The group stressed that it supports the rule if it helps to hold ocean common carriers accountable, including in situations in which they unfairly refuse space to U.S. exporters.
The Bureau of Industry and Security issued a temporary denial order for Russian airline Ural Airlines after it violated U.S. export controls by flying multiple aircraft to Russia, BIS said. Under the order, Ural Airlines’ export privileges will be revoked for at least 180 days.
Groups of European countries not in the EU aligned themselves with three of the bloc's recent sanctions moves, the European Council announced. On Oct. 6, the council barred individuals and entities from providing technical assistance, brokering services, financing or insurance to any third country ships carrying Russian oil above the price cap. The countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway aligned with the decision, the council said Oct. 13.
The EU extended its sanctions regime pertaining to Nicaragua for another year until Oct. 15, 2023, the European Council announced Oct. 13. The current restrictions subject 21 individuals and three entities to an asset freeze and the individuals also to a travel ban. The EU imposed the sanctions in response to the Nicaraguan government's decision to kick the EU delegation head out of the country and cut diplomatic ties with the Netherlands.
Russian semiconductor imports have dropped 70% since the country became subject to broad Western sanctions and export controls earlier this year, the Commerce, Treasury and State departments said in a joint alert last week. The alert, which provides an overview of the U.S. restrictions, said the measures are having "significant and long-lasting consequences on Russia’s defense industrial base," which relies extensively on foreign-sourced items, especially on imported microelectronics. Russia's semiconductor shortage has also dramatically dropped automobile and consumer electronics production, the alert said. Sanctions and export controls have resulted in "a sharp economic contraction for Russia" that will continue to drag on the Russian economy for years, the alert said.
President Joe Biden last week extended for one year beyond Oct. 27 a national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The White House said the African country "has been marked by widespread violence and atrocities that continue to threaten regional stability."
The Bureau of Industry and Security last week updated its “Don’t Let This Happen To You” guidance with new summaries and case examples of past export control investigations. The guidance now includes new case summaries of violations involving export controls against China, Russia, Iran and other countries.
New advanced computing and chip export controls against China (see 2210070049) represent an “unprecedented degree” of U.S. intervention to preserve technology leadership and could deal a major blow to China’s semiconductor industry, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report last week. But there are several “lingering gaps” in the new policy that the Bureau of Industry and Security should “swiftly” address if it hopes to make the rules as effective as possible, the report said, including adding more companies to the Entity List, making sure the restrictions are adopted by allies and ensuring the agency is properly staffed.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is working on a range of technology improvements for its website and applications, including a new Part 130 decision tool and a voluntary disclosure application, said Frances Moore, DDTC’s deputy chief information officer. The agency also is working to revamp its website and is coordinating with the Bureau of Industry and Security on a new system to more efficiently share data.