With the war in Ukraine raging on, the U.S. continued to escalate its sanctions response against Russia. The U.S. announced extensive trade and investment bans that prohibit U.S. persons from making any “new investment” in...more
8/23/2022
/ Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Financial Institutions ,
Foreign Policy ,
Iran ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Ukraine
The world’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated the first quarter of 2022, as the US and its international partners coordinated efforts to impose unprecedented sanctions designed to isolate the Russian...more
5/4/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Cuba ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Foreign Policy ,
Iran ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Ukraine
This quarter, the U.S. announced new sanctions and trade restrictions on China in response to its perceived intrusions on Hong Kong’s autonomy and reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Trump Administration acted...more
This quarter, the U.S. announced new sanctions and trade restrictions on China in response to its recent encroachments on Hong Kong and its reported mistreatment of ethnic minorities. OFAC continued to target shipping...more
U.S. sanctions authorities remained active in the first quarter of 2020, even as international focus turned toward combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. OFAC and the U.S. State Department imposed secondary sanctions on firms in...more
FOURTH QUARTER 2019 -
- Congress closes the year by passing new sanctions against China over human rights concerns, while OFAC clarifies the scope of recent actions against Chinese shipping companies.
- In the wake of...more
1/15/2020
/ AML/CFT ,
China ,
Compliance ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Export Controls ,
Exxon Mobil ,
Human Rights ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
New Guidance ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Oil & Gas ,
Sanctions ,
Voluntary Disclosure
In this quarter, OFAC lifted sanctions on Rusal and other companies following divestment by Oleg Deripaska. Meanwhile, as Venezuela descends into economic and political crisis, the US targeted PdVSA and others to hasten...more
5/10/2019
/ Counter-Terrorist ,
Cuba ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Foreign Policy ,
Helms-Burton Act ,
Iran ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Trade Relations ,
Trump Administration ,
Venezuela
The U.S. exit from the Iran Deal and the return of U.S. sanctions on Iran will impact companies located around the world, particularly if they conduct some part of their business in the U.S. Partner Philip Urofsky...more
President Trump announced today the United States’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and initiated plans to re-impose nuclear-related sanctions that had been suspended under the terms of the 2015 nuclear...more
It has now been two years since Iran-related sanctions relief took effect under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. While U.S. persons continue to be generally prohibited from engaging in Iran-related business, the JCPOA...more
Yesterday’s election has significant implications for international sanctions, particularly with respect to Iran, Cuba, and Russia. Although we do not want to be unduly alarmist, President-elect Trump’s statements on the...more
Although US and EU sanctions targeting Iran are not likely to be lifted before early 2016, there are a number of issues which US and EU-based financial institutions should be aware of in preparation for sanctions relief as a...more
9/28/2015
/ Banking Sector ,
EU ,
Financial Institutions ,
Implementation Day ,
International Atomic Energy Agency ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
P5+1 Nations ,
SDN List
After almost two years of negotiations, the P5+1 and Iran reach a final comprehensive agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which will likely result in the gradual lifting of international and US sanctions by early next...more
8/4/2015
/ Cuba ,
Enforcement Actions ,
IAEA ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Nuclear Weapons ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
P5+1 Nations ,
Sanctions ,
State Sponsors of Terrorism
On July 22, 2015, Shearman & Sterling hosted a client call on Iran sanctions led by Dan Newcomb, Anthony Patten, Barney Reynolds and James Campbell to examine the impact of this historic agreement and discuss how companies...more
After almost two years of negotiations, on July 14, 2015, the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and Iran reached an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The Joint...more
7/16/2015
/ Banking Sector ,
Energy Sector ,
Foreign Relations ,
IAEA ,
Inspections ,
Iran ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Nuclear Power ,
P5+1 Nations ,
SDN List ,
Trade Relations
What are the prospects for business with Iran after the June 30 deadline to complete negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program? In exchange for limitations on Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, the European Union...more
In this edition:
- US and EU continue targeting Russia for its activity in Ukraine
- Cuba-related regulatory reforms announced
- P5+1 and Iran reach framework agreement
- US enforcement actions:...more
4/23/2015
/ Commerzbank ,
Cuba ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Iran ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
P5+1 Nations ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Ukraine
It has been over eight months since SEC-registered issuers began making mandatory disclosures of business activities in or with Iran. During that period, issuers have filed over 400 Iran Notices with the SEC, including...more
In this edition:
- Iranian Sanctions Eased to Allow Additional Humanitarian Exports and Activities
- New Iranian Sanctions Designations Announced
- Significant Reduction Waivers Extended
- Global...more