The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a Revised Interim Policy on enforcement cases in which a Prepenalty Notice was issued after October 16, 2007 (the enactment date of the International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act) but before September 8, 2008 (the publication date of OFAC's amended Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines).
The Department of Homeland Security has posted a border security and immigration enforcement fact sheet. Among other things, DHS states that it has completed more than 216 miles of pedestrian fence and 154 miles of vehicle fence on the southwest border, for a total of approximately 370 miles. (DHS fact sheet, dated 10/23/08, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1224777640655.shtm)
Senator Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued a press release stating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative must redouble their efforts to fully open markets in Japan, China and the rest of the world to U.S. beef and that removing these barriers must be a top priority. (Press release, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2008press/prb100708.pdf.)
1. OFAC Notice of System Error with SDN Data Files
The Bureau of Industry and Security has renewed a Temporary Denial Order suspending the export privileges of Balli Group PLC and related companies and individuals, collectively, Blue Airways FZE, and Mahan Airways for an additional 180 days as evidence obtained by BIS shows that the respondent parties have violated the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). (BIS notice, FR Pub 10/01/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-23089.pdf.)
The Chinese Government's Official Web Portal reports that China's State Council, the country's Cabinet, recently issued an implementation regulation for the Labor Contract Law in an effort to clarify confusion surrounding the law. (Chinese Government press release, dated 09/18/08, available at http://english.gov.cn/2008-09/18/content_1099209.htm)
On Monday, September 15, 2008, the President signed into law H.R. 6532, which transfers $8.017 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from the Treasury General Fund. (White House statement, dated 09/15/08, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080915-11.html.)
The Government Accountability Office issued its report entitled "Electronic Waste: EPA Needs to Better Control Harmful U.S. Exports through Stronger Enforcement and More Comprehensive Regulation." (GAO-08-1044, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081044.pdf)
The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled, "Secure Border Initiative: DHS Needs to Address Significant Risks in Delivering Key Technology Investment," which states, among other things, that it is unclear and uncertain when and how SBInet capabilities will be delivered, and that SBInet has not been effectively managed. (GAO-08-1148T, dated 09/10/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081148t.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued an interim final rule, effective September 8, 2008, which amends its Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines for persons subject to the requirements of U.S. sanctions statutes, executive orders and regulations.