House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., urged the Treasury Department on Dec. 12 to consider sanctioning Chinese-managed oil tanker Luois; its operator, Qingdao Ocean Kimo Ship Management Co. Ltd.; and its owner, Fung Nam Ltd., for their role in sanctions evasion.
The State Department is designating Colombia-based drug trafficking group Clan del Golfo a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the agency said in Federal Register notices released this week. The State Department called the group a "violent and powerful criminal organization with thousands of members," adding that it traffics cocaine and is responsible for attacks against public officials, law enforcement, military personnel and civilians in Colombia.
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A U.S. cryptocurrency trading software company this week agreed to pay more than $3 million to resolve allegations that it helped customers in Iran illegally access digital asset exchanges by suggesting they use virtual private networks to hide their location, violating U.S. sanctions.
The U.S. granted sanctions relief this week for three Belarusian potash companies, days after the country's government freed political prisoners, reportedly in exchange for the eased sanctions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week removed sanctions from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes; his wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes; and the Brazil-based Lex Institute, which his wife leads. OFAC sanctioned the judge and Lex earlier this year after accusing him of using his position to "authorize arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppress freedom of expression."
A bipartisan, bicameral group of four lawmakers led by House Select Committee on China ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has introduced a bill aimed at helping the U.S. improve its use of sanctions against China for conducting oil and missile-related trade with Iran.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned several people, companies and ships connected to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the country's shipping and energy sectors.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week extended a Russia-related general license that authorizes certain transactions for the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH -- the international business of Russian energy firm Lukoil -- and related maintenance activities. General License 131A, which replaces 131, now expires at 12:01 a.m. ET Jan. 17. The license was scheduled to expire Dec. 13 (see 2511140039).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week removed two Russians from its Specially Designated Nationals List that it had originally sanctioned for either helping to provide Russia with export controlled items or for operating in Russia's technology sector.