The U.S. declined to prosecute a Massachusetts biochemical company that was part of an illegal export scheme involving China, the first time DOJ’s National Security Division has offered a corporate declination under its recently updated voluntary self-disclosure program.
The U.K. released various amendments to its sanctions regime last week, according to the Global Sanctions blog. The changes, which include May and June effective dates, bar sanctioned parties from acting as directors of British companies without a license; introduce new restrictions on imports of aluminum from Belarus; set new conditions for how sanctions violations can be investigated; and more.
A Russian court based in St. Petersburg on May 18 seized nearly $760 million of assets belonging to UniCredit, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, according to the Financial Times. A subsidiary of Russian gas giant Gazprom, RusChemAlliance, had told the court that the three western banks must pay bank guarantees under a contract with German firm Linde. RusChemAlliance's contract with Linde, which concerned the construction of a liquified natural gas processing plant and production facility in St. Petersburg, was paused due to EU sanctions on the Russian company.
The European Council on May 21 adopted legal measures to allow profits earned on seized Russian assets to be used to support Ukraine, the council announced May 21. The decision applies specifically to net profits from "unexpected and extraordinary revenues accruing to central securities depositories" as a result of EU sanctions on Russia.
China has sanctioned Mike Gallagher, former Republican member of Congress from Wisconsin and former chair of the House Select Committee on China, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced May 21, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said Gallagher has “frequently used words and deeds that interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and infringe on China's interests.” China said the sanctions will freeze Gallagher’s assets in the country, ban Chinese companies from doing business with Gallagher, and block him from entering the country.
The State Department’s Defense Export Control and Compliance System registration and licensing applications will be unavailable to users 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT May 23 for scheduled system maintenance. Users should ensure any work in progress is saved before the downtime period.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is extending the comment period for an information collection related to a request for appointment of a Technical Advisory Committee. The collection describes the functions and responsibilities of the Commerce Department TACs, which "advise the government on proposed revisions to export control lists, licensing procedures, assessments of the foreign availability of controlled products, and export control regulations.” BIS originally sought feedback on the information collection in February (see 2402080017), and the agency is allowing for another 30 days of comments from after the notice is published on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 21 defended the U.S. government's use of sanctions against China, saying the Biden administration resorts to punitive measures only when diplomatic efforts fail to achieve the desired result.
The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a proposed rule May 21 to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. If the transfer is finalized, regulatory controls applicable to Schedule III substances would apply, though “existing marijuana-specific requirements” will continue to apply and “additional controls … might be implemented,” including import and export authorization requirements under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the DEA said. Marijuana would also remain subject to FDA regulation, and a “drug containing a substance within the CSA's definition of ‘marijuana’ would need FDA approval” to be introduced into interstate commerce, unless an investigational new drug application is in effect. Marijuana is currently classified in Schedule I. Comments are due July 22.
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