U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Archives - Page 14 of 17

Chinese Telecom Giant, ZTE, Faced with Largest Penalty Ever Levied

In our previous post, we discussed ZTE’s record penalty for selling technology with US-origin chips to North Korea and Iran, in violation of US trade laws. The company initially received a $1.19 billion in penalties and was ordered to reprimand the executives responsible for the malfeasance’s as a condition to re-enter the United States (US) market after a three-year suspension. Despite telling the US government that the guilty executives had been properly punished, it became clear that they were instead rewarded with bonuses. This violation triggered an automatic ban of ZTE from the US market for seven (7) years. As the 4^th largest seller of cell phones to the US, the ban on ZTE serves as a means of protecting American production.

After the announcement, the ensuing backlash from Beijing, as well as trade talks in China, President Trump stated that he and Chinese president Xi Jiping are working together to bring ZTE “back into business”.

Now, the Trump administration threw a metaphorical lifeline to this tech giant, seemingly easing tensions with Beijing. Secretary Ross announced a $1.4 Billion dollar settlement with ZTE.

ZTE has agreed to severe additional penalties and compliance measures to replace the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) denial order imposed as a result of ZTE’s violations of its March 2017 settlement agreement. Under the new agreement, ZTE must pay $1 billion and place an additional $400 million in suspended penalty money in escrow before BIS will remove ZTE from […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T12:44:45-04:00June 8, 2018|Export, penalty, Technology, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|2 Comments

Exporting 201 – Advanced Exporting Webinar 5/22 – RSVP Today!

\Whether you are a new or experienced exporter, the next webinar is essential!

When do you get to hear from a Board Certified Expert on actual horror stories and when it’s in your best interest to file a Disclosure?

RSVP now to join our Exporting 201 webinar. And don’t forget to check out all of our upcoming webinars!

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By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T12:39:19-04:00May 7, 2018|CTPAT, Customs Expert, Events, Export, FDA Issues, International Law, International Trade, Pre-compliance, Speaking, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|0 Comments

Trump Administration Tightens Cuba’s Sanctions Program

Since June 2017, we have been anxiously awaiting changes to the Cuba sanctions program since President Trump signed an executive order and emphatically stated that his administration would tighten loose regulations established under the Obama Administration.

On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated,

“We have strengthened our Cuba policies to channel economic activity away from the Cuban military and to encourage the government to move toward greater political and economic freedom for the Cuban people”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC) has implemented the Treasury-specific changes via amendments to its Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR), codified at 31 C.F.R. 515. Similarly, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has implement necessary changes via amendments to its Export Administration Regulations (EAR), codified at 15 C.F.R. 730-746.

Additionally, the State Department has established corresponding initiatives to implement the policy changes promulgated by OFAC and BIS that target impeding economic activities from the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services. OFAC, BIS, and the State Department have taken steps to ensure policy implementations maintain opportunities for Americans to engage in authorized travel to Cuba and support the private, small business sector in Cuba.

The policy changes are effective TODAY, November 9, 2017, pursuant to Federal Register Notice.

The OFAC has already provided a three page FACT SHEET on its website discussing the main questions and answers you are likely pondering yourself. Here is a summary of the main changes:

Financial Transactions

The Embargo […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T12:23:07-04:00November 9, 2017|Best Practices, Cuba, Export, International Business, International Law, International Trade, International Travel, Pre-compliance, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Department of State (DOS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|2 Comments

Travel to the U.S. with an Unlimited Number of Cuban Cigars and Rum – Courtesy of New Revised OFAC and BIS Regulations

On October 14, 2016, President Obama issued a Presidential Policy Directive on United States-Cuba Normalization to further ease travel and trade restrictions with Cuba. As a result, Monday, October 17, 2016, amendments to both OFAC and BIS regulations will take effect.

Below are the top changes from both OFAC and BIS:

OFAC is making additional amendments to the Regulations with respect to health, trade and commerce, civil aviation safety, travel and related transactions, humanitarian-related activities, and certain other activities. Below is a recap:

Health
- Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now permitted to engage in commercial and non-commercial joint medical research projects with Cuban nationals. (Section 515.547).

Travel and Related Transactions
- Importation of Cuban merchandise: Not too long ago we alerted our readers that CBP was targeting Cuban Cigars at American Ports. We have BIG news for cigar and rum lovers… As of Monday, October 17, 2016, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now able to return home from Cuba (or any other country where Cuban rum and cigars can legally be purchased) with an unlimited amount of rum and cigars. However, the number of cigars and amount rum must be for personal use and such merchandise must be imported as accompanied baggage and are subject to the normal limits on duty and tax exemptions. This is a huge step forward from OFAC’s initial limit of $400 or less (with no more than $100 of such merchandise consisting of alcohol or tobacco products). (Section 515.560(c)(3)).

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By Jennifer Diaz|2026-04-28T07:44:56-04:00October 17, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Customs Expert, Export, International Trade, International Travel, Pre-compliance, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|3 Comments

Build Your Own ‘People to People’ Mission & More Cuba Changes

If you have been following our Cuba updates, you’ll note we’ve been busy. A full listing of all of our posts to get you caught up are all the way at the bottom. Here’s the Cliff Notes version:

On December 17, 2014, President Obama made a historic announcement: “Today, the United States is taking historic steps to chart a new course in our relations with Cuba and to further engage and empower the Cuban people.”
By January 16, 2015, both the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended its Cuban Assets Control Regulations, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations with a “Support for the Cuban People” license exception. Both OFAC and BIS’s new rules were effective as of January 16, 2015.
OFAC and BIS issued additional new rules on June 15, 2015, September 21, 2015, January 27, 2016 and again today!

As far as travel goes, the NY Times posted their travel tips, but, here are MY travel tips to you:

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By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T11:25:36-04:00March 16, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Customs Expert, Expert, Export, International Business, International Law, International Trade, International Travel, U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Department of State (DOS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|2 Comments

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