The semiconductor industry was disappointed the new U.S. export control rules involving China weren’t imposed multilaterally and were frustrated by the Commerce Department’s lack of engagement before the rules were announced, a chip industry executive said. Semiconductor companies also have received mixed messages from Commerce about how long it could take to convince allies to impose similar controls, a China technology expert said, and fear that China could retaliate before allies are brought on board.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated members of an international oil smuggling network that facilitated oil trades and generated revenue for Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), according to a Nov. 3 OFAC notice.
The U.K. issued a general license Nov. 2 under its Russia sanctions regime pertaining to Truphone. The license lets the company continue to provide services under existing arrangements and allows an individual or entity to carry out any activity needed for the effective termination of service contracts or obligations with Truphone. The company can pay remuneration, allowances and pensions to all British staff and reasonable fees for the functioning of the business. The license runs through Jan. 31.
The U.K. added four entries to its Russia sanctions list, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a Nov. 2 notice. Entries are for Alexander Grigoryevich Abramov, former nonexecutive chairman of Evraz; Alexander Vladimirovich Frolov, former Evra director and CEO; Airat Mintimerovich Shaimiev, former director of OAO Tatavtodor; and Albert Kashafovich Shigabutdinov, former director of the AO TAIF group of companies. In the same notice, OFSI also noted it amended the entries for Aleksandr Kostomarov, Brian McDonald and God Nisanov, to add identifying information.
The Biden administration should “make full use” of its sanctions and export control authorities against Iran for transferring weapons and other military items to Russia, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a Nov. 1 letter to the White House. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas said Iran has sent hundreds of “lethal Mohajer-6 and Shahed-136 drones, as well as related technology and military advisors” to Russia since it invaded Ukraine, and is reportedly preparing to provide “Fateh-100 and Zolfaghar” ballistic missiles.
Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Canada on Oct. 31 imposed new sanctions against Iran for human rights violations by its government, including its recent crackdown on women and peaceful protesters. The sanctions target Hossein Rahimi, a police commander; Ahmad Fazelian, deputy attorney general; Asadollah Jafari, head of the Judicial Administration in the North Khorasan Province; and Seyed Morteza Mousavi, deputy head of the Judicial Administration in the Mazandaran Province. Also sanctioned were two entities: Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces and Al-Mustafa International University, which “spreads the regime’s ideology abroad through its global branches.”
The U.K. released a General License under its Russia and Belarus sanctions regimes pertaining to the provision of legal services, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced. The license allows for the payment of legal fees by designated individuals and entities to law firms and counsel. The license distinguishes between legal fees issued pre- and post-designation. OFSI imposed a cap of around $574,000, VAT included, on the amount that can be claimed for legal work carried out pre-designation, and an identical cap on overall fees for legal work started post-designation with reporting obligations proving all fees are reasonable.
The U.K. on Oct. 29 amended its Russian sanctions regime to prohibit the import and acquisition of liquefied natural gas and gold jewelry, the Department for International Trade said. The amendment also extends the existing restrictions on the import of gold to include gold processed in a third country and expands the list of revenue-generating goods to goods falling under commodity codes 2208 and 2303. The move further bans the provision of technical assistance, financial services and funds and brokering services relating to the goods. The measures took effect Oct. 29, except for the provision relating to liquefied natural gas, which takes effect Jan. 1.
European officials are concerned that a sudden increase in exports of washing machines, refrigerators and other items to Russian neighbors are being used to help the country acquire semiconductors and evade export controls, Bloomger reported Oct. 29. Armenia imported more washing machines from the EU during the first eight months of this year than the last two years combined, the report said, and Kazakhstan imported more than triple the amount of refrigerators through August compared with the same period last year. European officials are concerned some of the items' components may be used by Russia's military, the report said, and have publicly said they have seen parts from fridges in Russian military equipment used in Ukraine.