Deal Diary

On February 2, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Cyber-related General License (GL) 1, a general license that authorizes certain transactions with Russia’s Federal Security Service (Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti or FSB).  GL 1 authorizes U.S. persons (i.e., individuals and companies) to request, receive, use, pay for or deal in licenses, permits, certifications, or notifications issued or registered by the FSB for information technology (IT) products in Russia, provided that (i) the relevant IT goods or technology are subject to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and are licensed or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); and (ii) payment of fees to the FSB for such licenses and other authorization or notification does not exceed $5,000 in any calendar year. GL 1 also authorizes transactions or activities that are necessary and ordinary incident to complying with law enforcement or administrative actions or investigations involving the FSB or rules and regulations administered by the FSB.

Introduction

On January 13, 2017, the Obama administration announced that it would lift sanctions imposed on Sudan issued under the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations (SSR), which are administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The action reverses nearly 20 years of U.S. policy toward Sudan, a country that had been the target of a comprehensive trade embargo due to human rights abuses and support for international terrorism. The United States has stated that its decision comes after months of bilateral engagement with Sudan, which has revealed that country’s support for key U.S. foreign policy goals, such as ceasing hostilities in conflict areas, including Darfur, and enhancing counterterrorism cooperation.

On October 7, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published new guidance clarifying (a) circumstances under which non-U.S. financial institutions (FFIs) may engage in U.S. dollar transactions involving Iran; (b) when residual “secondary” U.S. sanctions on Iran can affect transactions involving affiliates of Iranian Specially Designated National (SDNs); and (c) U.S. government expectations for conduct of compliance screening and due diligence in Iran-related transactions otherwise permissible under U.S. sanctions relief implemented pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or “the Agreement”) in January 2016.

On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a new General License J (GL-J). GL-J authorizes the reexportation of certain civil aircraft on temporary sojourn to Iran, as well as related transactions involving the reexportation of spare parts, components and technology to Iran. GL-J therefore provides long-needed authorization for commercial passenger and cargo airline operators to fly into and out of Iran using aircraft subject to U.S. export controls. The authorizations contained in GL-J are subject to certain conditions, which are outlined below.

On March 24, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License I authorizing U.S. persons to undertake certain transactions ordinarily incident to the negotiation of, and entry into, contingent contracts for licensable activities under OFAC’s Statement of Licensing Policy for Activities Related to the Export or Re-export to Iran of Commercial Passenger Aircraft and Related Parts and Services (SLP). OFAC also updated its FAQs on sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or “Iran Nuclear Deal”) to address inquiries related to General License I and provide additional guidance on license applications pursuant to the SLP. These actions reflect ongoing OFAC efforts to implement sanctions relief under the Iran Nuclear Deal (see our January 19, 2016, and January 21, 2016, alerts for further details) and to account for business realities that companies encounter in securing sales of commercial passenger aircraft and related parts and services in the Iranian market.

On January 16, 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verified, and U.S. Secretary of State Kerry confirmed, that Iran had implemented its key nuclear-related measures described in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or the “Agreement”). This event triggered “Implementation Day” under the Agreement, which commences the suspension and/or easing of UN, U.S. and EU nuclear-related sanctions.

As part of our continued coverage on U.S. sanctions against Russia and Ukraine, we share with you some detail on new guidance involving Crimea released by OFAC, originally featured on our AG Trade Law blog.

On July 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a Crimea Sanctions Advisory highlighting certain practices that have been used to circumvent or evade U.S. sanctions involving Crimea and suggesting measures to mitigate Crimea sanctions risks.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 countries (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, finalized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement that would grant Iran sanctions relief in exchange for implementing significant limitations on its nuclear program.

Under the agreement, Iran will be required to remove two-thirds of its uranium-enriching centrifuges and reduce its existing low-enriched uranium stockpiles by up to 98 percent, among other nuclear-related measures. President Obama emphasized Tuesday that the agreement, which is expected to freeze most of Iran’s nuclear efforts for a decade, is “not built on trust,” but “verification.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will monitor and verify Iran’s nuclear-related measures and inspect its facilities, including military sites. If any issues or disputes arise over Iran’s nuclear commitments, a joint commission, consisting of the P5+1 and Iran, will attempt to resolve the matter over a 30-day period. If unresolved after 30 days, the issue will be referred to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which will vote on whether to continue sanctions relief or re-impose sanctions on Iran.

In exchange, most European Union (EU) and U.N. sanctions against Iran will be lifted. The United States will generally remove sanctions that apply to non-U.S. persons. U.S. sanctions will continue to apply to non-U.S. entities owned or controlled by U.S. persons, but certain transactions by such entities may be licensed if they are consistent with the terms of the JCPOA. U.S. sanctions that apply to U.S. persons will largely remain in place, with the exception of a permissible licensing regime for the importation into the United States of Iranian carpets and foodstuff (including caviar and pistachios), and trade in civil aircraft and parts. In sum, Iran will still be subject to robust U.S. sanctions, but opportunities will exist for certain non-U.S., as well as U.S., companies in a limited number of industries.