The State Department this week proposed several changes to its defense export regulations, including one that would clarify definitions for “export” and “reexport,” another that would change language in its Canadian exemption and a third that would revise its exemption for certain transfers to dual or third-country nationals. The agency also proposed corrections that would fix administrative errors in the regulations. Comments on the proposed changes, which were released Feb. 1, are due April 4.
Torres Trade Advisory, a business and trade consulting firm, hired former export enforcement agent Donald Pearce as a senior adviser for its global risk, monitorship and investigations practice, the firm announced Jan. 20. Pearce previously served as a special agent with the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement, where he helped in the prosecutions of “precedent-setting” export control cases and wrote the 2016 amendments to the Wassenaar Arrangement's Best Practices for Export Control Enforcement.
The United Kingdom approved a humanitarian exception to its Afghanistan sanctions regime in line with the carve-out permitted by the United Nations. The change says activities that "support basic human needs in Afghanistan" don't violate the restrictive measures on the country. "Earlier this week the UK government adopted into law a humanitarian exception from UN sanctions meaning aid agencies can operate without fear of undue legal repercussions," the Department for International Trade said Jan. 28. "Previously, charities and humanitarian agencies trying to bring aid into Afghanistan faced legal difficulties as a result of UN sanctions against senior Taliban leaders."
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended 48 entries on its Iran (Human Rights) sanctions regime and 20 entries on its restrictive measures list for Venezuela in two separate financial sanctions notices. OFSI also delisted four entries from the Iran sanctions list: Ahmad Zargar, former head of the "Organization for the Preservation of Morality"; Hassan Haddad, former deputy safety officer of Tehran Revolutionary Court; Mohammad Hejazi, former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Sarollah Corps in Tehran; and Seyyed Hasan Firuzabadi, former military adviser to the supreme leader.
The United Kingdom announced various changes to its strategic export controls licensing statistics and strategic export controls reports and statistics website, the U.K. Department for International Trade said Jan. 28. The changes stem from the introduction of data on Standard Individual Export Licenses processed by the new LITE licensing system being used a "small number of beta users," the DIT said. Changes include a new release date for the official statistics covering Q3 of 2021, which is now Feb. 11; the unavailability of some data from the 29 licenses processed in LITE for Q3; and various missing types of data including SIEL end-user types and processing times.
Eight countries aligned with the European Union's decision to add one individual to its Libya sanctions regime, the European Council said Jan 31. The council on Dec. 13 added Aleksandr Sergeevich Kuznetsov to the sanctions list due to his position in the Wagner Group, a Russia-based private military entity (see 2112130009). Kuznetsov, commander of the Wagner Group's 1st Attack and Reconnaissance Co., was injured in Libya while fighting alongside the Libyan National Liberation Army in 2019, the council said. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Georgia also imposed sanctions on Kuznetsov -- a move welcomed by the EU, the council said.
The U.N. Security Council on Jan. 28 amended one Libya-related entry on its sanctions list. The UNSC revised identifying information for Saadi Qadhafi.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned seven people and two entities connected to Myanmar's military, the agency said Jan. 31. The sanctions target KT Services & Logistics Co., which operates the TMT Port in Yangon and leases it from the U.S.-sanctioned Myanmar Economic Holdings, and the Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services, which buys arms and equipment for the country’s military. OFAC also designated government officials Thida Oo, Tun Tun Oo and Tin Oo, along with Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, Tay Za, Htoo Htet Tay Za and Pye Phyo Tay Za, all of whom have ties to business dealings with the government.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Jan. 31 removed a vessel from its Specially Designated Nationals List. The agency deleted the Oman Pride crude oil tanker, a Liberia-flagged vessel sanctioned last year for being operated by Bravery Maritime, a company owned by Iranian oil shipper Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi (see 2110290024 and 2108130041). OFAC didn’t immediately provide more information.
Lawmakers submitted a host of amendments to the House’s recently released China competition bill, including measures that would introduce new export controls and sanctions authorities and requirements. One submission, a 115-page amendment from Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, would create more congressional oversight of the Commerce Department’s emerging and foundational technology control effort and calls for expanded export restrictions against Chinese military companies.