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
Closing the year with a renewed focus on the People’s Republic of China, the Biden Administration imposed new export restrictions on US-origin technology to Chinese tech firms to hinder the PRC’s military and security...more
1/24/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Export Controls ,
Exports ,
Forced Labor ,
Hong Kong ,
Imports ,
New Legislation ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Ransomware ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Ukraine ,
Virtual Currency
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
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
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
Closing out 2018, OFAC announced its plan to lift sanctions against United Co. Rusal and others, despite bi-partisan opposition from Congress. Simultaneously, OFAC continued to target Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors...more
1/23/2019
/ Counter-Terrorist ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Foreign Financial Institutions (FFI) ,
Foreign Policy ,
General Licenses ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Magnitsky Act ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Trafficking ,
Trump Administration ,
Venezuela
Russia remained at the forefront this quarter, as the Trump Administration imposed new measures and markets reacted to the threat of additional, “crushing” sanctions from Congress on Russian sovereign debt. Meanwhile, EU...more
10/17/2018
/ CAATSA ,
Chemical Weapons ,
Counter-Terrorist ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
Executive Orders ,
Financial Institutions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Magnitsky Act ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Oil & Gas ,
Russia ,
Sovereign Debt ,
Trump Administration ,
UK ,
Venezuela
This quarter, companies around the globe prepared to exit Iran-related business in the wake of U.S. sanctions snap-back. Meanwhile, OFAC provided a path to relief to designated Russian entities, extending several deadlines...more
7/12/2018
/ Counter-Terrorist ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Foreign Policy ,
General Licenses ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ,
Magnitsky Act ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
South Korea ,
Trump Administration ,
Ukraine ,
Venezuela
This quarter saw the announcement of sweeping new sanctions against Russia’s billionaire class and their corporate holdings, and included the Trump Administration’s first issuance of sanctions against Russia for meddling in...more
4/16/2018
/ CAATSA ,
Counter-Terrorist ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Economic Sanctions ,
General Licenses ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Narcotics ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sanction Violations ,
SDN List ,
SSI List ,
Terrorism Funding ,
Trump Administration ,
Ukraine ,
Venezuela
Headlines from the final months of 2017 included the signing of a new executive order with global anti-corruption implications; new guidance on the Trump Administration’s approach to Russia sanctions under CAATSA; tightening...more
1/9/2018
/ Counter-Terrorist ,
Cuba ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Executive Orders ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Magnitsky Act ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sudan ,
Trump Administration
The third quarter was headlined by the imposition of broad new US legislative sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Trump Administration also acted unilaterally to significantly expand sanctions against both...more
The first six months of the Trump Administration saw several notable developments for US sanctions, with particular implications for Russia and Iran. The Administration also declared a shift in US policy toward Cuba. ...more
7/6/2017
/ Counter-Terrorist ,
Cuba ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Exxon Mobil ,
Foreign Policy ,
Iran Sanctions ,
North Korea ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Russia ,
Trump Administration ,
Ukraine
On November 8, 2016, Donald John Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. Following fiery criticism of the Obama Administration’s sanctions policies, including the Iran deal, the lifting of substantial parts...more
OFAC amends the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to ease Cuban sanctions in response to President Obama’s policy changes announced on December 17, 2014. These revisions have major implications for the banking and financial...more
4/18/2016
/ Boeing ,
Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) ,
EU ,
General Licenses ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Myanmar ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
United Nations
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
In this issue:
- US and EU continue sanctions against Russia for its activity in Ukraine;
- US and EU sanctions against the Crimea region;
- US makes major change in Cuban relations;
- The EU...more
1/14/2015
/ Crimea ,
Cuba ,
Drug Trafficking ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
Foreign Relations ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
Sanctions ,
Syria ,
Trade Relations ,
Ukraine
In this issue:
- The Revised OFAC 50 Percent Rule
- U.S. and E.U. Sectoral Sanctions Targeting Russia
- Additional U.S. Sanctions Targeting Iran
- Sanctions Targeting Ongoing Conflicts in Syria,...more
10/21/2014
/ Banking Sector ,
Defense Sector ,
Energy Sector ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
Iran Sanctions ,
Joint Plan of Action ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SSI List ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
Ukraine
In this issue:
- US Authorities End Quarter Full of Enforcement Actions with $8.9 Billion BNP Settlement
- US and EU Make Numerous Ukraine-Related Designations as Separatist Aggression Continues
- US...more