On 1 May 2023, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 42 under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, three new Venezuela-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and also amended one Venezuela-related FAQ. These developments occurred in the context of efforts by creditors to enforce judgments against Venezuela and appear to have been in response to a request from the Special Master for the US District Court for the District of Delaware to allow a court-ordered sale of shares in the US parent company of Citgo Petroleum Corp. to proceed in order to resolve a long-running legal dispute between a Canadian mining company and the Government of Venezuela.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled OFAC Amends and Reissues the Belarus Sanctions Regulations on 19 April 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled US Government Imposes New Sanctions, Export Controls, and Tariffs Targeting Russia and Belarus to Mark One-Year Anniversary on 25 February 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled OFAC Issues Amended Russia-Related General Licenses and Related FAQs on 28 January 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

On June 30, 2022, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced four key policy changes to strengthen the administrative enforcement program and tackle external threats. These policy changes prioritize the “most serious violations” and cases that pose the greatest danger to US security.

Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled BIS Adds to Entity List and Imposes License Requirement for Food/Medicine to Russian/Belarussian Military End Users; Commerce Charging Letters to Become Public on 1 July 2022. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.

On May 12, 2022, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Syria General License No. 22 (“GL 22“), authorizing certain activities in particular sectors of the Syrian economy that are otherwise prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations in specified regions of Syria not controlled by the Assad regime. According to the US Statement Department’s press release, GL 22 was issued in support of the Biden Administration’s strategy to defeat ISIS by promoting economic stabilization in areas previously controlled by ISIS.

On April 25, 2022, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) re-issued General License 13R (“GL 13R”) and General License 15L (“GL 15L”), narrowing those authorized activities with GAZ Group and entities owned 50% or more by GAZ Group (“GAZ”), as further described below. OFAC also issued a set of updated FAQs to clarify the scope of authorized activities under these GLs.

Join us for our 19th Annual Global Trade and Supply Chain Webinar Series entitled, “International Trade Developments in a Challenging New World,” which includes the latest international trade developments. This year, in a variety of sessions, our panels of experts will cover the key developments and latest trends on sanctions, export controls and Foreign Investment Review regimes. On the inbound side, there will be sessions on opportunities and compliance challenges arising out of FTAs, hot topics on Customs valuation, trends in customs audits and supply chain compliance challenges and logistics.