As we reported earlier, the US Government seems to be inching closer to placing an embargo on Syria. At this time, Syria remains highly controlled under the Export Administration Regulations, with all items in a classification other than EAR99 requiring an export or reexport license. According to press reports, the House International Relations Committee recently approved the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, mostly due to concerns surrounding Syria’s support of terrorists groups, which Syria of course denies. The bill authorizes the President to impose a ban on all US exports to and US investments in Syria. Current Washington speculation appears to point towards Congress likely passing the Syria sanctions bill before it takes its Fall break.
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Archive for the ‘Embargoes’ Category
US Moving towards Syria Embargo
Saturday, October 25th, 2003 by John BlackPosted in Commerce Dept, EAR, Embargoes, Export License, Syria | Comments Off
US Moving towards Syria Embargo?
Tuesday, September 30th, 2003 by John BlackAs we reported earlier, the US Government seems to be inching closer to placing an embargo on Syria. At this time, Syria remains highly controlled under the Export Administration Regulations, with all items in a classification other than EAR99 requiring an export or reexport license. According to press reports, the House International Relations Committee recently approved the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, mostly due to concerns surrounding Syria’s support of terrorists groups, which Syria of course denies.
The bill authorizes the President to impose a ban on all US exports to and US investments in Syria.
Recent terrorist attacks against Israel point towards US imposition of sanctions, but Syria’s support of the recent United States-sponsored United Nations resolution on Iraq may be an effort by Syria to convince Mr. Bush to not impose sanctions, should Congress pass the bill.
Current Washington speculation appears to point towards Congress likely passing the Syria sanctions bill before it takes its Fall break.
Posted in EAR, Embargoes, Finance & Banking, Sanctions, Syria | Comments Off
What’s Up With Iraq? The New US Trade Controls
Friday, May 30th, 2003 by Maarten SengersDo your sales reps keep bugging you with Iraq opportunities? Are you confused by the multiple Iraq Federal Register Notices in May talking about this General License or that? Well, so are many, including those answering the Q&A phone bank at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Here’s the current deal on Iraq: the embargo has been lifted. Items classified as EAR99, as well as those classified in most AT controlled Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) no longer require export or reexport licenses to Iraq.
How did this happen? When the Iraq war began to wind down, the administration began feverishly trying to undo the embargo. But years of layered laws and rules are difficult to unravel, and so the process is occurring in steps. The UN also had to lift their sanctions. For the past few months, OFAC and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) have attempted to untangle the mess through a series of website announcements and regulations changes. The most important step thus far was the General License issued by OFAC on May 23 that effectively lifted the embargo.
Posted in Aerospace, BIS, EAR, Embargoes, Export License, Federal Register, Information Technology, Iraq, OFAC, Telecommunication, USA Regulations | Comments Off
Iraq and Syria Update 2003
Sunday, March 30th, 2003 by John BlackThe geopolitical events of the past few months have spurred speculation on country export control policy in the Middle East, particularly as related to Iraq and Syria.
At this time, there are feverish reviews underway at the Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) regarding Iraq sanctions and even new potential Syria sanctions.
Posted in Embargoes, Federal Register, Iraq, OFAC, Sanctions, Syria | Comments Off
www.libyashopping.net, and Other Embargo Defying Websites
Monday, July 15th, 2002 by Maarten SengersWhat happens if you read one too many of those infamously noncommittal Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) interpretations (see 2.1)? You surf the web. You don’t need to know Arabic, Farsi, Spanish or other embargoed languages to find sites which make you wonder why anybody even bothers discussing esoteric sanctions points. Conveniently, many of these sites market their embargo defying wares in English. Imagine what you would find if you searched in local languages? Consider this article your English language on-line embargoed destination shopping guide.
Germany to Restore Trade Relations with Iran and other US Embargo Targets?
Wednesday, January 30th, 2002 by John BlackThe German Economy Minister Werner Mueller wants to restore trade relations between his country and Iran. Mueller told NTV Television that, “I expect with Iran we will soon be doing big business”.
He also stated that his ultimate goal is to restore export credit cover to many nations on the United States trade sanctions list by September of 2002. Mueller supported his ambition to trade with Iran by stating, “From power stations to other infrastructure, Iran is a good customer and the German economy has chances there”.
However, when asked about the possibilities of German trade with Iraq, the Economy Minister was hesitant. He acknowledged that at the current time, with Iraq’s largely negative image and position in world affairs, that trade with the Middle Eastern nation would be difficult at best.
Libya Embargo Continued
Friday, January 4th, 2002 by John BlackIn the January 4, 2002 Federal Register, President George W. Bush extended national emergency status in respect to nation and government of Libya for 1 year. This action is a continuation of Executive Order 12543, which was enacted by former President Ronald Reagan on January 7, 1986. This does not change the scope of the US trade embargo on Libya.
Posted in Embargoes, Libya, USA Regulations | Comments Off
US Targets New Sanctions at Milosevic but Does Not Lift Embargo on Serbia
Tuesday, January 30th, 2001 by John BlackIn one of his last acts in office, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13192 “lifting and modifying” the US embargo on Serbia. As a practical matter, however, the US embargo on export and reexports to Serbia remains in place, despite Clinton’s executive order, which was published in the January 23, 2001 Federal Register. Until the US Department of Commerce revises the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”), all items subject to the EAR continue to require a US license when destined for Serbia. Commerce has stated that it hopes that within a couple of weeks it will publish a revision to the EAR that will return Serbia to its pre-embargo status.
The primary immediate impact of the executive order is that it creates a new prohibited parties list consisting of former President Slobodan Milosevic and certain of his family, friends, supporters and business partners. See Annex 1 at the end of this newsletter for the new list of FYRM (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia-Milosevic) entities. The Treasury Department did not include the FYRM list in the Federal Register notice, but it did publish the list on its web page at http://www.treas.gov/ofac/.
What is the restriction on doing business with FYRMs? No “US person” may participate in or facilitate, directly or indirectly, any transaction involving any listed FYRM or any other entity owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, Milosevic or a listed entity. For the purpose of this restriction, “US Person” includes:
- Any person in the United States;
- Any US corporation and its foreign branches, but not its foreign subsidiaries; and
- Any US citizen or permanent resident.
Posted in Balkans, Defense Trade Controls, Embargoes, Federal Register | Comments Off
Treasury Department Publishes Taliban/Afghanistan Embargo Regulations
Thursday, January 11th, 2001 by John BlackIn the January 11, 2001 Federal Register the Treasury Department published the Taliban (Afghanistan) Sanctions Regulations to implement former President Clinton’s Executive Order 13129 of July 4, 1999. The US sanctions on the Taliban and Afghanistan have been in force since the issuance of the executive order. These regulations clarify many technical details of the sanctions.
For a summary analysis of the US sanctions on the Taliban and Afghanistan, see the July 1999 Aerospace Export Control Update.
Posted in Afghanistan, Embargoes, Federal Register, USA Regulations | Comments Off
