The Biden administration is making progress in its effort to persuade American allies to adopt outbound investment restrictions similar to the ones the U.S. is pursuing, a Treasury Department official said July 25.
New rules from the Commerce and State departments could lead to a range of new restrictions on U.S. support for certain foreign military intelligence and security services, increasing export licensing requirements for activities that could give U.S. adversaries a “critical military or intelligence advantage.”
An Iranian national was extradited to the U.S. from the U.K. on charges related to his alleged role in a scheme to evade U.S. export controls by shipping electronic testing technology to Iran, DOJ announced. Saeid Haji Agha Mousaei made his initial appearance in an Illinois U.S. District Court on July 22, where he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., smuggling goods from the U.S., wire fraud and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., urged the Biden administration July 23 to expand the scope of sanctions on entities and people who undermine peace and stability in the West Bank.
The Biden administration is considering imposing additional economic sanctions on Georgia in response to the country’s recent anti-democratic actions, a State Department official told a congressional panel July 23.
The European Commission this week released a set of frequently asked questions on the sanctions screening obligations of payment service providers under the EU’s instant payment regulation, a new set of rules governing instant payment services in euros adopted earlier this year. The FAQs touch on those obligations, beginning on page 62, outlining how payment service providers should be screening against sanctions lists, what they must do if they detect a payment that may violate sanctions, and more.
The U.S. designated two Mexican members of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion this week, along with their companies, for helping to move fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. The designations target Juan Carlos Banuelos Ramirez, a CJNG “cell leader” who moves drugs for the group, launders money, procures precursor chemicals and oversees Mexican production labs; and Gerardo Rivera Ibarra, another cartel leader who works to send fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the U.S. OFAC sanctioned Inmobiliaria Universal Deja Vu S.A. de C.V. for being owned by Banuelos, and Fornely Lab S.A. de C.V. for being owned by Rivera.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three people for being “key financiers and trusted operatives” of the Islamic State group’s activities in Africa. The designations target South Africa- and Zambia-based Abubakar Swalleh, South Africa-based Zayd Gangat and Democratic Republic of the Congo-based Hamidah Nabagala. OFAC said they help the group move funds and carry out terrorist attacks in the region.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published new reporting requirements for banks and other financial institutions under a law that allows the U.S. to use certain frozen Russian assets to help support and rebuild Ukraine.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned a network of people and companies in China involved in procuring items for North Korea’s weapons programs, which the country is using to provide missiles to Russia’s military. OFAC said North Korea is relying on this Chinese network to buy foreign-sourced materials and parts that it can’t produce domestically. The companies “consolidate and repackage items for onward shipment” to North Korea, the agency said, and hide the “true end-user” from the manufacturers and distributors of those items.