On July 12, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule adding thirty-four (34) entities to the Entity List for the following destinations: Canada; People’s Republic of China (China); Iran; Lebanon; Netherlands; Pakistan; Russia; Singapore; South Korea; Taiwan; Turkey; the United Arab Emirates (UAE); and the United Kingdom.
Forced Labor/Human Rights
BIS Adds Five Chinese Companies to Entity List for Human Rights Violations
By Scott E. Diamond** on
Effective June 24, 2021, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will place five Chinese companies on the Entity List for human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang…
Biden Administration Expands Sanctions on Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies
By Thompson Hine International Trade on
On June 3, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14032, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Certain Companies of the People’s Republic of China” (EO). The EO supersedes the executive orders targeting “Communist Chinese Military Companies” that the Trump administration issued. Specifically, it revises Sections 1 through 5 of Executive Order 13959…
OFAC Sanctions Additional Chinese Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On March 22, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two Chinese government officials for “serious human rights abuses” against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. In a brief press statement, the Director of OFAC stated, “Chinese authorities will continue to face consequences as long…
President Biden Issues Executive Order Sanctioning Burmese Military Leaders and Entities Involved in Coup
By Scott E. Diamond** on
President Biden Issues Executive Order Regarding Military Coup in Burma and Sanctioning Military Leaders
On February 10, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order concerning the military coup in Burma on February 1, 2021, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government and arrested numerous government leaders, politicians, human rights defenders, journalists,…
Commerce Publishes Additions to Entity List, Including China’s SMIC and Entities Supporting China’s Human Rights Abuses and Territorial Claims to the South China Sea
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On December 22, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued formal notification in the Federal Register of its addition of 77 entities to its Entity List. BIS determined that these entities are “engaging in or enabling activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.” While these listings were…
BIS Implements Controls on Water Cannons and Amends Licensing Policy to Address Human Rights Violations
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On October 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published two final rules in the Federal Register, “Controls on Exports and Reexports of Water Cannon Systems” (“Water Cannon Controls”) and “Amendment to Licensing Policy for Items Controlled for Crime Control Reasons,” (“Licensing Policy Amendment”)…
OFAC Sanctions Additional Syrian Officials and Entities for Continued Corruption and Human Rights Abuses
By Thompson Hine International Trade on
On September 30, 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three Syrian individuals and 13 entities, placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. These persons and entities are associated with the Fourth Division of the Syrian Arab Army, the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and…
Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security and the Treasury Caution Businesses Regarding Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang
By Thompson Hine International Trade on
On July 1, 2020, the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security and the Treasury issued an advisory detailing the risk of exposure to businesses with supply chain entities that engage in human rights abuses, including forced labor in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China.
Key Notes:
- The departments’ joint “Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
…
OFAC Sanctions Additional Iranian Individuals and Entities for Human Rights Abuses and Support of Weapons Proliferation
By Thompson Hine International Trade on
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated 14 individuals and entities for sanctions arising from serious human rights abuses and censorship in Iran and support of designated Iranian weapons proliferators. According to Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, “The United States will not stand by while the Iranian regime continues…