On October 28, 2022, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry (BIS) issued FAQs on the new semiconductor regulations. The FAQs are short and relatively clear (thank you!) even if they were released on a Friday...more
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim final rule containing an enormous set of export controls that will likely damage the Chinese semiconductor, advanced computing, and...more
10/11/2022
/ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
China ,
Corporate Counsel ,
ECCNs ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Federal Register ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
License Applications ,
Manufacturers ,
Military End Use ,
MOFCOM ,
Popular ,
Rulemaking Process ,
SDN List ,
Semiconductors ,
Software ,
Technology
Well, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) waited until the summer was over, but timing may be the best part of the new export controls on Russia and Belarus (the “Rule”). Understanding the new Rule and how the old...more
9/27/2022
/ Anti-Terrorism Financing ,
Belarus ,
Biological-Weapons ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Chemical Weapons ,
Corporate Counsel ,
ECCNs ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Direct Product Rule ,
Military End Use ,
Popular ,
Russia
In an exciting turn of events in the world of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the US Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued two open general licenses (OGLs) authorizing the...more
Watch Out, More Things Are Luxury Than You Think!
On March 11, 2022, the President issued Executive Order 14068 (EO 14068) Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment with Respect to Continued Russian...more
3/15/2022
/ Belarus ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
Most-Favored Nations ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Trade Restrictions ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Ukraine
In a coordinated effort, on March 2, 2022, the White House announced another round of broad trade controls and sanctions against Russia and now Belarus in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
The White House...more
3/7/2022
/ Belarus ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Direct Product Rule ,
Licenses ,
Military End Use ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
Ukraine
On February 25 and 28, 2022, the US Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued its fifth and sixth actions against Russia, blocking the assets of President Vladimir Putin and three other high-ranking...more
What Are the New US Export Controls on Russia?
On February 24, 2022, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed new export controls intended to restrict access to technologies and other...more
2/28/2022
/ Belarus ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
ECCNs ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
General Licenses ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Ukraine
Responding to the Russian announcement recognizing the independence of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine, President Biden signed Executive Order 14065 (the...more
US importers should participate in the Task Force's comment and hearing process to flag due diligence challenges and formulate the strategy to enforce the import prohibitions.
What to Know -
Effective June 21, 2022, 180...more
1/6/2022
/ China ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Detention ,
Enforcement ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Importers ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Tariff Act of 1930 ,
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
In late September, the Biden Administration took a variety of actions to address the ongoing global semiconductor shortage and the various supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That includes convening a...more
On September 7, 2021, three former U.S. Intelligence Community and military personnel (Defendants) entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the U.S....more
Forced Labor Enforcement Continues to Escalate as Commerce Restricts Exports to 5 Additional PRC Companies -
Withhold release order was issued that will prohibit imports of products produced in whole or part from silica...more
6/28/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Child Labor ,
China ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Imports ,
Solar Energy ,
Supply Chain ,
US State Departments ,
Withhold Release Orders (WROs)
The subpoena issuance suggests that the Biden Administration will continue the US Government’s assertive approach to China.
The US Department of Commerce, on March 17, 2021, issued subpoenas on multiple Chinese companies...more
3/19/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Adversaries ,
Foreign Policy ,
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
National Security ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department
Companies should be prepared to conduct additional due diligence for any transactions involving entities in the countries enumerated in this rule.
In an interim rule published on, January 15, 2020, the Department of...more
3/17/2021
/ Biological-Weapons ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Chemical Weapons ,
China ,
Cuba ,
Due Diligence ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Exports ,
Foreign Entities ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Iran ,
North Korea ,
Nuclear Weapons ,
Russia ,
Syria ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
Venezuela
Changes are afoot for key industry sectors with complicated global supply chains.
“As this pandemic has made clear, we can never again be in a position where we have to rely on a foreign country that doesn’t share our...more
3/1/2021
/ APIs ,
Batteries ,
Biden Administration ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defense Sector ,
Energy Sector ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Controls ,
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ,
Minerals ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Popular ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Semiconductors ,
Supply Chain ,
Transportation Industry
The Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) Rule, if implemented by the Biden Administration, would significantly impact companies that have an international nexus in a number of different sectors,...more
2/2/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Cuba ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Digital Service Providers ,
Executive Orders ,
FCC ,
Foreign Adversaries ,
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Iran ,
National Intelligence Agencies ,
North Korea ,
Popular ,
Russia ,
Sensitive Personal Information ,
Software ,
Supply Chain ,
Telecommunications ,
Venezuela
The growing role that international trade rules are playing has left many corporate leaders to look beyond regularly imposed tariffs.
Earlier this month, we published our “Advance Look at Hot Button Trade Issues under the...more
1/29/2021
/ Automotive Industry ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
China ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Controls ,
Forced Labor ,
NAFTA ,
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Agreements ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies
Arent Fox International Trade Group Partner Marwa Hassoun and Government Contracts Group Counsel Travis Mullaney chat about Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act. In today's episode, we focus on the U.S....more
Cannabis and cannabis resin, formerly classified on the most restrictive schedule under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (Single Convention) were moved to the least restrictive schedule following a historic vote...more
In his last days, President Trump takes a swipe against companies identified by the Department of Defense (DoD) as Communist Chinese military companies by prohibiting US persons from investments.
On November 12, 2020,...more
11/18/2020
/ China ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Foreign Investment ,
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ,
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ,
National Security ,
PCAOB ,
Proposed Rules ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Treasury
The US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule amending the license review policy for items on the Commerce Control List that are controlled for national security (NS) reasons and are...more
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is now following new rules on mandatory filings for certain foreign investments in critical technology companies.
As a refresher, CFIUS is the US Government’s...more
10/16/2020
/ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
CFIUS ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Export Administration Regulations (EAR) ,
Export Controls ,
Final Rules ,
FIRRMA ,
Foreign Investment ,
ITAR ,
NAICS ,
Personal Data ,
Proposed Regulation ,
U.S. Treasury ,
US Department of State
Target areas are telecom, information security, and sensor items that can be used for censorship, surveillance, detention, and use of force.
On October 6, 2020, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and...more
On October 1, 2020, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an Advisory highlighting sanctions risks associated with facilitating ransomware payments on behalf of victims targeted by...more