On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued several amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) to implement the India-U.S. Joint Statement of June 7, 2016, recognizing the U.S. and India as Major Defense Partners, and making certain technical changes regarding Hong Kong’s Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations.  The net result is a relaxation of licensing policy for certain national security and regional stability controlled items, including…

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently published its revised Part 810 Guidance on compliance with the amended Part 810 Regulations on nuclear export controls (10 C.F.R. Part 810). The 2015 amendments to the Part 810 Regulations represented the first comprehensive updating of DOE nuclear export control policy since 1986. Our previous review of the amended regulations can be found here. The revised Part 810 Guidance is useful to those interested in providing nuclear technology…

Pursuant to the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016’s requirement that the Secretary of the Treasury determine whether North Korea is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern, on May 27, 2016, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) found that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”) is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. This designation is due…

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (“DDTC”) published proposed rules in the Federal Register today (BIS rules here; DDTC rules here) amending the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) and Category XII of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) as part of the President’s Export Control Reform (“ECR”) initiative. Specifically, a number of items in ITAR Category XII (Fire Control, Laser, Imaging,…

On 23 November 2015, President Obama issued an executive order imposing targeted sanctions against certain persons or entities contributing to the insecurity and violence in Burundi. Read More: Sanctions Developments – Burundi and Liberia…