News of Note
Progress Continues Toward Additive Manufacturing Standards
In late July, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (America Makes), the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) launched Phase 2 of the America Makes & ANSI Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC). Phase 2 goals include soliciting involvement by additional industry experts and sectors and expanding the discussion of standards needs for polymers in additive manufacturing, among other topics.
Additive manufacturing describes a variety of emerging technologies that build three-dimensional (3D) objects by use of computers, machine equipment, and layering materials. Additive manufacturing processes have already been applied to a variety of industrial sectors, including aeronautics, medical devices, transportation, energy, and consumer products.
The AMSC seeks to facilitate the continued growth of the additive manufacturing industry by serving as a cross-sector coordinating body to “to accelerate the development of industry-wide additive manufacturing standards and specifications consistent with stakeholder needs and thereby facilitate the growth of the additive manufacturing industry.” The AMSC Phase 2 kick-off meeting will be held in Philadelphia on September 7, 2017. Breakout groups include aerospace/defense, medical, automotive/heavy equipment, energy, industrial and commercial machinery, and a basket category of industries not identified above. Additional information (including registration details) is available here.
Sudan Sanctions Update
On July 12, 2017, the President issued Executive Order 13804 (E.O. 13804) extending the date the Sudan Sanctions may be terminated to October 12, 2017. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a related FAQ. As we discussed in January, under Executive Order 13761 (E.O. 13761), the Obama Administration identified July 12, 2017 as the potential revocation date for most Sudan-related sanctions so long as the Government of Sudan continued to perform certain actions. E.O. 13804 extends the review period established by E.O. 13761 to October 12, 2017. As a result, the Sudan sanctions remain in place, however, the general license broadly authorizing most prohibited transactions with respect to Sudan also remains in place.
Trump Administration Expands Iran Sanctions
On July 18, the Trump Administration sanctioned persons and entities related to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sixteen persons and entities sanctioned include “seven entities and five individuals for engaging in activities in support of Iran’s military or [IRGC];” “an Iran-based transnational criminal organization” which “orchestrated the theft of U.S. and western software programs;” and networks that “supported Iran’s military procurement or the IRGC through the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and military equipment for the IRGC, the production and maintenance of fast attack boats for the IRGC-Navy, or the procurement of electronic components for entities that support Iran’s military.” These entities were added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. Inclusion on the SDN list blocks the property and interest in property of these persons and entities, and prohibits United States persons from conducting virtually any transaction with them.
The newly announced sanctions occur against the backdrop of congressional legislation which aims to strengthen sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea that passed Congress on July 27 and awaits President Trump’s signature. King & Spalding will continue to monitor these developments.
