Tag Archives: imports

OFAC Gives Clarity on Cuba Sanctions with New FAQs

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added five new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on 6 January 2017. The new FAQs were in reference to a general license that OFAC issued on October of 2016.  The license considerably lessened the ‘180-day’ rule – a restriction that makes foreign-flag vessels wait at least … Continue Reading

The Customs Compliance Letters and What They Really Mean

In late 2016, U.S. Customs issued an unusual letter to a select group of 1000 U.S. importers containing numerous compliance publications and detailing facts about the importers’ highest-valued goods. The letter asks for the importers to review CBP’s laws and regulations, and to either assure compliance or disclose in advance any errors identified. It also … Continue Reading

10 Things Exporters Need to Know About Crude Oil Swap Licenses

Despite recent efforts to repeal the U.S. ban on crude oil exports, the restrictions remain firmly in place.  Recently, however, the Bureau of Industry & Security (“BIS”) authorized exports of U.S. light crude oil in exchange for imports of Mexican heavy crude, causing a stir in the industry and some confusion regarding the legal context … Continue Reading

European Court ruling REACH

The European Court’s ruling in the ‘substances in articles’ case FDC and FMB v Ministre de l’ecologie, du development durable et de l’energie will extend aspects of EU chemical law compliance.  Going forward, importers and suppliers doing business in the EU will be required to have increased oversight and understanding of the chemical compositions of … Continue Reading

Ridiculous and Complicated: Proposed Changes to Support Documents for EAR Licenses

On April 9th, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) proposed a rule that would remove certain documentation requirements in connection with Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) license applications. Export nerds are well aware that changing these requirements would go a long way toward streamlining the license application process (which is ridiculous and complicated). As the … Continue Reading
LexBlog