The Census Bureau is considering a new pilot program that could test the elimination of some export reporting requirements for shipments to Puerto Rico, said Omari Wooden, Census’ assistant division chief for trade outreach and regulations. Officials have so far crafted two proposals that are being discussed “internally,” Wooden said, and would first seek public comment before implementing a potential pilot.
The Bureau of Industry and Security hasn’t given up on a rule to clarify how U.S. companies can participate in standards-setting bodies that have members designated on the Entity List, a senior BIS official said this week. Despite yearslong clamoring for the clarification from technology associations and companies, the rule is facing a lengthy internal review process not only from other agencies but also from different bureaus within the Commerce Department, said Hillary Hess, BIS’s regulatory policy director.
The Bureau of Industry and Security on June 16 suspended the export privileges of a Belarusian airline for violating U.S. export controls against Belarus. The agency issued a 180-day temporary denial order for Belavia Belarusian Airlines, the country’s state-owned national airline, BIS said in a denial order. The order bans Belavia from participating in transactions subject to the Export Administration Regulations.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has crafted a new proposal for an outbound investment screening mechanism that will ensure the U.S. is “not ceding its manufacturing power in industries critical to our economic and national security.” The “refined proposal,” negotiated during the congressional conference for the Bipartisan Innovation Act, will be “robust” but also will address industry concerns, said the lawmakers, including Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., who originally proposed a version of the bill last year (see 2201140038). “We look forward to meaningful engagement in writing from stakeholders as we work to secure this bill in the conference report,” the lawmakers said.
The U.K. released guidance on how it collects data on its Russia sanctions regime. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office published sections on the sanctions' legislation, data collected "post invasion," individual designations, estimates of oligarchs' net worths, oligarchs' family members and sanctions on entities.
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation released a General License June 10 permitting certain activity for retail banking services. The license permits non-designated individuals to use retail banking services of a sanctioned Russian or Belarusian credit or financial institution if the payments are made or received are meant for that individual's personal use and the total value of the payments made June 10 to Sept. 10 doesn't exceed $60,000. The license permits such action until Sept. 10. A relevant institution can process these payments, the license said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control renewed a Russia-related general license authorizing certain energy-related transactions with several Russian companies. General License 8C, which replaces GL 8B (see 2204060051), authorizes the transactions through 12:01 a.m. EST Dec. 5. The license was previously scheduled to expire June 24. OFAC updated its frequently asked questions to reflect the change.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is soliciting comments concerning information collection activities required by the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations Report on Closure by U.S. Financial Institutions of Correspondent Accounts and Payable-Through Accounts. Comments are due by Aug. 15.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will release its updated Licensing 2.0 application to the Defense Export Control and Compliance System on June 24, the agency said this week. The updates will “provide greater flexibility and security for users and system administrators,” DDTC said, calling it a “significant step in DDTC’s effort to continuously modernize the DECCS application suite.” To make the change, DECCS Registration and Licensing will go offline at 2 p.m. EDT June 24 and resume June 27 at 8 a.m. EDT.
Bureau of Industry and Security Undersecretary Alan Estevez this week again stressed the importance of building a new multilateral export control regime, saying that’s one of his priorities as he begins his tenure at BIS. The U.S. and its allies need a new regime “for the 21st century,” Estevez said, specifically one that isn’t only limited to dual-use technologies. “We need to work with our partners on that,” hr said during a June 14 virtual conference hosted by the Center for a New American Security. “We have a great coalition and great momentum, and I intend to do that.”