December - 2020

UK schedules release of new sanctions list

Although European Union sanctions continue to apply in the United Kingdom until 23:00 GMT on 31st December 2020, the UK has established a new sanctions list under under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (Sanctions Act). Currently the list is populated with designations under the new global human rights sanctions regime, but after 23:00 GMT on 31st December 2020, all those designated under regulations made under the Sanctions Act will be on this list. To read mo

OFAC issues new GLs, publishes additional ID information about Communist Chinese Military Companies

On 23rd December 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License (GL) 5F and amended related Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 595. OFAC also issued Ukraine-related GLs 13P and 15J. Additionally, on 28th December 2020, OFAC published five new FAQs (857, 858, 859, 860, 861) relating to Executive Order 13959, "Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies"

BIS issues new ‘Military End User’ (MEU) List

On 21st December 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced that it is issuing a new list: the ‘Military End User’ (MEU) List. Fifty-seven Chinese and 45 Russian companies comprise the first tranche of 102 entities on this list. The entities on the MEU have been designated by the U.S. Government as ‘military end users’ for purposes of the ‘military end user’ control in the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The MEU List infor

BIS amends EAR and publishes updated FAQs about the FDP rule

Effective 18th December 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding 77 entities to the Entity List. Among these additions is the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) of China, which has been added based on “evidence of activities between SMIC and entities of concern in the Chinese military industrial complex.” The other entities added to the entity list are

OFAC publishes new Iran-related FAQs

On 7th December 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published Iran-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 855 and 856. OFAC also updated Iran-related FAQs 830, 831, 832, and 847.

UK announces plan for regulating 5G networks

On 30th November 2020, the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced a plan to 1) remove “high risk vendor equipment” from the country’s 5G networks and 2) diversify the country’s telecommunications supply chain. The new Telecommunications (Security) Bill will enable the UK to protect itself from “high risk vendors” and the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy aims to support necessary suppliers, attract new suppliers, and accelerate the development

German customs extends ATLAS code to include COVID-19 vaccines

On 4th December 2020, German customs (Generalzolldirektion, "Zoll") extended the range of goods that are coded under 9DFA to include COVID-19 vaccines, once they are approved. Code 9DFA is used for the “import of medical aid due to the Corona situation.”To read the information letter regarding 9DFA (Nummer 0099/20), see the Teilnehmerinformationen site on the Zoll website or follow this link (automatic download in German).

BIS seeks public comments on chemical weapon regulations

On 1st December 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security published a notice of inquiry in the Federal Register (85 FR 77155) seeking public comments on the impact of the Chemical Weapons Convention on commercial activities involving “Schedule 1” chemicals during 2020. All comments must be submitted through the Federal rulemaking portal or by email (PublicComments@bis.doc.gov) by the 31st December 2020 deadline.

China rules: domestic wine industry suffered due to subsidies on wine imports from Australia

On 10th December 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce published a preliminary ruling regarding the countervailing investigation on imported wines originating from Australia. The ruling determined that subsidies for imported wines originating in Australia has caused substantial damage to the domestic wine industry. Therefore, starting on 11th December 2020, temporary countervailing measures against imported wines originating in Australia will go into effect. These measures w

BIS amends EAR, corrects ECCNs

The U.S Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by correcting errors from the 11th September 2020 Federal Register publication of the “Wassenaar Arrangement 2018 Plenary Decisions Implementation; and Other Revisions Related to National Security Controls (Final Rule)” (85 FR 56294). These corrections affect Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) 3A001, 3A002, 3A991, 5A002, 7A005, and 9E003, located on the Commerce Co

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