The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued General License No. 5 under Executive Order 13566, which authorizes U.S. persons to engage in transactions with or involving Qatar Petroleum or the Vitol group of companies related to oil, gas, or petroleum products exported from Libya under the auspices of the Transitional National Council of Libya (TNC), provided that neither the Government of Libya nor any other person whose property and interests in property are blocked -- with the exception of Arab Gulf Oil Company (Agoco), as an entity operating in areas controlled by the TNC and under the auspices of the TNC -- receives any benefit from such transactions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has released new civil penalties and enforcement information as follows:
On April 18, 2011 the President issued Executive Order 13570, to strengthen existing import sanctions against North Korea. The EO prohibits (unless excepted) the direct or indirect importation of goods, services, and technology from North Korea. The EO takes additional steps to address the national emergency declared in EOs 13466 and 13551, ensures implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874 (on preventing imports of certain goods and services from North Korea1), and complements the import restrictions provided for under section 73 of the Arms Export Control Act.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of seven newly-designated entities and seven newly-designated individuals whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13382, “Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters," effective February 1, 2011. (The Treasury Department previously announced these designations for their connection to Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) and the Islamic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), including Royal-Med Shipping Agency Ltd. and Maraner Holdings Limited. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/01/11 news, 11020158, for BP summary.)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has announced the designation of North Korean financial institution Bank of East Land (aka Dongbang Bank) pursuant to Executive Order 13551, which targets North Korea’s importation and exportation of arms, importation of luxury goods, and other illicit activities. As a result, U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting financial or commercial transactions with the designee, and any assets of the designee within U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. OFAC has also updated its Specially Designated Nationals list to include these designations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of five individuals and two entities newly-designated as persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13566, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya,” effective April 8, 2011. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/11/11 news, 11041111, for previous BP summary of these designations.)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued guidance on its exemption from the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations of the new southern Sudan state that is expected to form on July 9, 2011. The population of the new state voted to secede from Sudan1 in January.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name of one entity, Mercurio Internacional S.A. of Colombia, whose property and interests in property has been unblocked pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, effective March 30, 2011.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name one individual, Moussa Koussa, whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 13566, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya,” effective April 4, 2011. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/05/11 news, 11040557, for previous BP summary of this unblocking.)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of nine individuals newly-designated as persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13566, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya," effective March 11, 2011. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/11/11 news, 11031169, for previous BP summary of these designations.)