On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued a final rule, titled Revision to License Review Policy for Advanced Computing Commodities (the “BIS Rule”), that implements a more favorable license application review policy for exports from the United States of certain advanced computing
Continue Reading U.S. Commerce Department Revises License Review Policy for Exports of Certain Advanced Computing Commodities to China and Macau
U.S. and UK Sanctions Target Russia’s Two Largest Oil Companies; EU Issues Significant New Russia and Belarus Sanctions Package
On October 22, 2025, the U.S. government imposed property-blocking sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (“Rosneft”) and Lukoil OAO (“Lukoil”), by designating these entities, as well as 34 Russia-based Rosneft and Lukoil subsidiaries, to the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked
Continue Reading U.S. and UK Sanctions Target Russia’s Two Largest Oil Companies; EU Issues Significant New Russia and Belarus Sanctions PackageU.S. Department of Commerce Expands End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities
On September 29, 2025, the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued an interim final rule titled Expansion of End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities (the “Affiliates Rule”).
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Continue Reading U.S. Department of Commerce Expands End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed EntitiesReimposition of UN-Mandated Sanctions Against Iran and Additional EU and UK Sanctions
On 29 September 2025, United Nations (“UN”) nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, which were suspended in 2015, were reimposed following action at the UN Security Council by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In parallel, the European Union (“EU”) and United Kingdom (“UK”) also reintroduced autonomous sanctions measures against Iran that
Continue Reading Reimposition of UN-Mandated Sanctions Against Iran and Additional EU and UK SanctionsU.S. Commerce Department Eases Export Control Restrictions for Syria
On September 2, 2025, the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published in the Federal Register a final rule titled Relaxing Export Controls for Syria (the “Syria Export Controls Rule”). The rule eases certain export controls applicable to Syria under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) by adding
Continue Reading U.S. Commerce Department Eases Export Control Restrictions for SyriaDOJ White Collar Enforcement Six Months into the Trump Administration
Now that the Trump Administration has cleared the six-month mark, its approach to white collar enforcement is starting to come into focus through multiple policy announcements and an emerging track record. After a flurry of policy announcements from Attorney General Pam Bondi in the early weeks of the new administration
Continue Reading DOJ White Collar Enforcement Six Months into the Trump AdministrationNew U.S. and UK Sanctions, Including Related to Russia’s Energy Sector
On January 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of State intensified sanctions against Russia with new measures targeting Russia’s energy sector. According to the Treasury Department’s press release, these measures are intended “to fulfill the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy” and “substantially increase the sanctions risks associated with the Russian oil trade.”
The new U.S. sanctions include a determination by the U.S. Department of the Treasury authorizing the imposition of property-blocking sanctions against any person who is determined by the Treasury Secretary or Secretary of State (in consultation with one another) to operate or have operated in the Russian energy sector, and a determination issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) prohibiting—effective February 27, 2025—the provision of “petroleum services” from the United States or by a U.S. person to any person located in Russia. In addition, OFAC and the U.S. Department of State collectively designated for property-blocking sanctions more than 400 individuals, entities, and vessels from various countries involved in Russia’s energy sector, including two of Russia’s most significant oil producers and exporters—Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom Neft (“Gazprom Neft”) and Surgutneftegas, along with more than two dozen of their subsidiaries. The designations included more than 180 vessels, many of which are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels involved in the trade of Russian oil, as well as several Russian energy executives, oil traders, oilfield service providers, and financial and insurance entities associated with Russia’s energy sector. The designations also covered two active Russian liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) projects and a Russian oil project.
On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of State designated or re-designated under additional sanctions authority nearly 250 individuals and entities for property-blocking sanctions, including actors based in China.
OFAC also issued multiple general licenses related to the above designations, including a general license authorizing until February 27, 2025, transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of transactions involving Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, their designated subsidiaries, and entities that they own 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, subject to certain conditions. In addition, OFAC revoked a general license that had authorized transactions with certain vessels subject to U.S. property-blocking sanctions due to their ownership, and amended two existing general licenses. One of these amended general licenses, General License 8L (which supersedes General License 8K), significantly narrows the scope of permissible energy transactions involving certain blocked financial institutions to include only wind-down transactions until March 12, 2025.Continue Reading New U.S. and UK Sanctions, Including Related to Russia’s Energy Sector