Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., said March 7 that his panel could soon consider several bills, including Iran sanctions legislation.
U.S. sanctions and export control agencies this week warned foreign companies about the risks they may face for poor compliance with U.S. trade rules, saying the government can pursue civil and criminal penalties against businesses for a range of transactions that take place outside U.S. borders. The new “tri-seal compliance note” published by DOJ, the Commerce Department and the Treasury Department includes a list of activities that most commonly place foreign firms at risk, outlines how U.S. export licensing requirements can apply to shipments through third countries, and summarizes recent enforcement actions taken by all three agencies to punish violators.
Two U.S. residents tried to illegally export millions of dollars worth of automatic guns, grenade launchers, stinger missile systems, grenades, sniper rifles, ammunition and other export-controlled items to South Sudan, DOJ said in an indictment unsealed March 5. The agency said they were trying to buy the weapons to “arm opposition groups” looking to overturn the country’s government.
Preparations continue for a jury trial set for April 1 in a criminal arms smuggling case involving the constitutionality of "specially designed" provisions in U.S. export controls (U.S. v. Quadrant Magnetics, LLC, W.D. Ky. # 3:22-CR-88-DJH).
Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., reintroduced a bill to impose sanctions on foreign entities and governments that provide financial or material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or affiliates of the terrorist groups, Rubio’s office announced March 5. The proposed “Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2024” was reintroduced to incorporate language tweaks and the addition of a Democratic co-lead, a Rubio spokesperson said. The House passed similar legislation in November (see 2311020030).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week removed Dominican businessman Angel Rondon Rijo from its Specially Designated Nationals List after Rondon applied to be delisted, his attorney Erich Ferrari, whose firm represented Rondon, said on Linkedin. Rondon was originally sanctioned in 2017 after OFAC said he funneled money to government officials in the Dominican Republic to help secure a contract for a Brazilian construction company.
The U.S. this week sanctioned two ship owners in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, along with their two vessels, for helping to ship Iranian “commodities” on behalf of sanctioned Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. The designations target Hongkong Unitop Group Ltd., Reneez Shipping Limited and their ships, the Panama-flagged Eternal Fortune and the Palau-flagged Reneez, respectively.
The Group of 7 should expand membership and use the forum to create a new multilateral export control regime for critical and emerging technologies, which could help replace the outdated Wassenaar Arrangement, said Emily Benson, a trade and technology policy expert. She said G7 nations are open to the idea, although she believes the U.S. hasn’t yet decided on the best path forward.
Switzerland implemented the EU's 13th sanctions package on Russia, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research announced March 1. Switzerland levied sanctions on an additional 106 individuals and 88 entities, as the EU did in late February (see 2402230020). The European nation also imposed additional trade sanctions on Russia, adding 27 entities to the export ban on dual-use goods and goods that may enhance Russia's military.
The U.K. this week removed sanctions from Igor Viktorovich Makarov, who was originally designated for his ties to companies in Russia’s energy sector. The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said Makarov was a director or involved with Reywood Holdings Limited (formerly ARETI International Group), Vikay Industrial Limited and Selaco Limited, all of which do business “in a sector of strategic significance to the Government of Russia.” OFSI didn’t say why it delisted Makarov.