Sanctions Top-5 Index
Did you miss one? Here are the links to all of the Sanctions Top-5 weekly briefings from 2017 to 2022.
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2022
Week ending 25 February 2022: A roundup of unprecedented international sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Week ending 11 February 2022: UK beefs up Russia sanctions regulations; Ukraine sanctions pro-Russia TV station; White House freezes Afghan central bank funds; What the heck is the Unverified List?
Week ending 4 February 2022: The EU and UK talk big on Russia sanctions; US government warns about Myanmar business risks; US Treasury sanctions Indonesian NGO for Syria activities; US Treasury assures NGOs on Afghanistan transactions.
Week ending 21 January 2022: Russian operatives in Ukraine sanctioned (more to follow?); Total and Chevron announce Myanmar pullout; NGOs caution on new Mali sanctions; US Treasury targets Lebanese travel company for Hizballah financing.
Week ending 14 January 2022: “Rogue” employees lead to $5 million OFAC settlement; ECOWAS launches Mali embargo after election delay; North Koreans in Russia, China sanctioned after missile tests; US and EU team up for Nicaragua sanctions.
2021
Week ending 31 December 2021: Afghanistan gets US and UN sanctions relief; State Department tags Chinese officials for Hong Kong secondary sanctions; US bank settles with OFAC over North Korea violations; Farewell and good riddance to 2021.
Week ending 17 December 2021: More restrictions on “Chinese military companies”; White House expands counter-narcotics sanctions; Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passes; EU sanctions Russia’s Wagner Group; Russia counters UK sanctions with visa bans.
Week ending 10 December 2021: US Treasury sanctions dozens of targets over human rights abuses, corruption; SenseTime IPO postponed after “military company” designation; Individual settles over Iran sanctions violations; OFAC licenses Afghanistan remittances.
Week ending 3 December 2021: Belarus hit with new coordinated sanctions; Colombia’s FARC loses terrorist label; Australia passes Magnitsky-style sanctions law; US Senate finally confirms a sanctions post; Get ready for more Russia sanctions (maybe).
Week ending 26 November 2021: Australia readies new sanctions for human rights, cyber threats; US Treasury OKs more NGO activities in Syria; More Nord Stream 2 sanctions; Get ready for the NDAA 2022.
Week ending 19 November 2021: EU readies more Belarus sanctions; US Treasury sanctions Nicaragua officials after elections; Biden terminates Burundi sanctions; Iranians sanctioned for US election interference.
Week ending 12 November 2021: Biden admin sanctions Eritrea troops and politicians over Ethiopia crisis; US Treasury warns about Cambodia business risks, sanctions officials for corruption; Cryptocurrency exchange sanctioned for ransomware; UAE bank pays to settle with New York State and the Fed over OFAC violations.
Week ending 29 October 2021: Too many sanctions? US Treasury sanctions review proposes policy changes; Iran UAV program sanctioned; Lebanese elite sanctioned for corruption; Kosovo joins US and Qatar for Hezbollah sanctions push.
Week ending 15 October 2021: US Treasury publishes virtual currency guidance; US and Mexico team up to target cartel members; US lifts sanctions on Iranian companies accused of missile ties; EU and Ukraine sanctions Crimea politicians and law enforcers; Vietnamese telco pays for breaching US export controls.
Week ending 1 October 2021: Hong Kong Financial Secretary tries to calm nerves over Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law; US national pleads guilty to speaking at North Korea cryptocurrency conference; US Treasury settles over oil company violations in Russia and Sudan; Norway charges professor with breaching Iran sanctions.
Week ending 24 September 2021: US Treasury OKs humanitarian transactions in Afghanistan; Biden administration takes on ransomware; Sinaloa Cartel operatives sanctioned; My colleagues help save a CFO from extradition.
Week ending 17 September 2021: White House preps new Ethiopia-related sanctions; Colombia’s “boss lady” sanctioned with family for drug trafficking; US Treasury sanctions financing networks linked to Iran and Al-Qa’ida; Watch out for new US ransomware sanctions.
Week ending 10 September 2021: US Treasury authorizes some Afghanistan humanitarian transactions; NGO coalition presses Biden admin to speed up sanctions review; UK sanctions Myanmar’s Htoo Group (again); OFAC settles with Texas tech company over Iran sales.
Week ending 27 August 2021: G7 set to consider Afghanistan sanctions; US Treasury settles with Chinese bank over Sudan violations; US Treasury settles with Romanian bank over Iran and Syria violations; OFAC sanctions money launderers in Paraguay for spreading corruption.
Week ending 20 August 2021: China postpones Hong Kong anti-foreign sanction law; Biden admin piles on more Russia sanctions; Commerce Department settles with California company over export violations; More Cuba sanctions after protests.
Week ending 13 August 2021: More US, UK, and Canada sanctions on Belarus; Switzerland also adds Belarus sanctions; US Treasury sanctions more Cuban officials after protests; Russia and China align on counter-sanctions.
Week ending 6 August 2021: Hong Kong gets closer to having an anti-foreign sanction law; Australia readies Magnitsky-style sanctions; Nicaraguan officials and families hit with US and EU bans; US government sanctions militants in Africa.
Week ending 30 July 2021: Will Hong Kong get an anti-foreign sanctions law? US Treasury sanctions Cuban and Syrian forces for human rights abuses; EU preps Lebanon sanctions; US government seizes a tanker used in North Korean trade.
Week ending 23 July 2021: China sanctions US officials in response to Hong Kong sanctions; UK sanctions foreign officials and others for corruption; Cuban security forces hit with US sanctions after local uprising; OFAC settles with manufacturer for Iran violations; OFAC highlights weak compliance program in settlement with online payments firm.
Week ending 16 July 2021: US government issues Hong Kong business advisory; US Treasury jumps the gun on secondary sanctions for PRC and Hong Kong officials; Biden administration OKs Venezuela gas exports; More Xinjiang-related export controls.
Week ending 2 July 2021: US Treasury piles on the Myanmar sanctions; Switzerland sanctions Myanmar ministers; OFAC lifts sanctions on Iranian individuals; Good riddance to Trump’s International Criminal Court sanctions.
Week ending 25 June 2021: US government blocks Chinese solar panel supplier over forced labor concerns; Western powers team up for new Belarus sanctions; EU and UK sanction Myanmar exporters; US Treasury OKs COVID-19 relief to sanctioned countries.
Week ending 11 June 2021: China unveils its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law (plus my commentary); Biden walks back Trump restrictions on WeChat, TikTok; US Treasury lifts some Iran sanctions as JCPOA negotiations go on; Nicaraguan officials sanctioned for working for the president; Who else forgot about the Balkan sanctions?
Week ending 4 June 2021: Goodbye Communist Chinese Military Companies, hello Military-Industrial Complex Companies!; Biden amends Trump-era securities ban; US Treasury softens the blow with FAQs; Bulgarian bigwigs banned for bribery.
Week ending 28 May 2021: US Treasury confirms Xiaomi is no longer sanctioned; After Xiaomi and Luokung, GOWIN takes Defense Department to court; US and EU plan big Belarus sanctions?; China and US in tit-for-tat sanctions over religious freedom report; US CBP hits Chinese fishing company with import ban over forced labor.
Week ending 21 May 2021: US Treasury goes easy on Hong Kong sanctions; OFAC kicks can again on Chinese military company subsidiaries; Myanmar’s State Administrative Council sanctioned; EU pauses trade deal after PRC sanctions; US State Department waives sanctions on Nord Stream 2.
Week ending 14 May 2021: Xiaomi bests Defense Department in fight over military company label; Luokung Technology might be next; Blocking Statute puts EU companies in a bind; Individuals arrested over US imports of Iranian currency.
Week ending 30 April 2021: UK makes a splash with new anti-corruption sanctions; Treasury fines money transmitter for prison payments; Treasury and DOJ settle with German company for Iran software sales; Why hasn’t OFAC updated its list of Chinese military companies?
Week ending 23 April 2021: EU ramps up Myanmar sanctions; OFAC fines Oklahoma company for using Iranian services; Narco’s ex-wife and family let off the hook; US Treasury tightens sanctions on Belarus firms; Check out the upcoming ACI Asia-Pacific Conference.
Week ending 16 April 2021: Biden admin hits Russia with big new sanctions (kind of); US Treasury gives the green light on Sudan trade; EU sanctions head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps; US Commerce subpoenas Chinese company in information technology probe.
Week ending 9 April 2021: Biden lifts International Criminal Court sanctions (finally); US Treasury targets Myanmar state-owned gem company; Commerce Department hits Chinese supercomputing firms with export controls; Cosmetics CEO nabbed for Iran exports.
Week ending 26 March 2021: China sanctions US, EU, UK, Canadian officials; US teams up with EU, UK, Canada for Xinjiang sanctions; US and UK sanction Myanmar military companies; Canada piles on with Russia sanctions; Another OFAC settlement.
Week ending 19 March 2021: State Department goes to the mat with Hong Kong sanctions report; OFAC settles with Ohio company over Iran shipments; Malaysia extradites North Korean on US charges; Man gets hefty prison sentence for Venezuela sanctions breaches.
Week ending 12 March 2021: Xiaomi wins reprieve from securities ban; OFAC sanctions kids of Myanmar coup general; Biden reimposes sanctions on billionaire Dan Gertler; ISIS affiliates designated as terrorist organizations; State Department outlaws visas for Iran and Ukraine officials.
Week ending 5 March 2021: Biden unveils big Russia sanctions package; EU adopts its own Russia sanctions; Myanmar military companies in the crosshairs; OFAC targets Yemen militants, Mexico narcotics trafficker.
Week ending 26 February 2021: US hits Saudi nationals with sanctions and visa bans in Khashoggi case; More Myanmar sanctions; EU preps Russia sanctions after Navalny jailing; EU sanctions more Venezuela officials; More details on that Gertler special OFAC license.
Week ending 19 February 2021: OFAC settles with another digital assets company; Myanmar generals hit with Canadian and UK sanctions; UK sanctions dozens in Belarus as US imposes visa bans; US State Department plays nice at the United Nations; More North Korean hacking.
Week ending 12 February 2021: Myanmar sanctions and export controls; Biden unwinds Trump terrorist designation on Ansar Allah; WeChat and TikTok restrictions on ice; EU-Russia sanctions tensions warm up.
Week ending 29 January 2021: New Myanmar sanctions coming?; Xiaomi sues to block securities ban; OFAC starts off Biden era with general licenses; OFAC licenses transactions for billionaire accused of corruption; Ukraine sanctions Chinese firm to block corporate takeover.
Week ending 22 January 2021: China hits outgoing Trump officials, entities with travel and business sanctions; EU Parliament calls for Hong Kong sanctions; US sanctions Venezuelan petroleum network; Russian company sanctioned for pipeline work; Here comes the Biden administration.
Week ending 15 January 2021: White House revises ban on US investments in Chinese military companies; Pentagon adds Xiaomi and eight others to the list; More Hong Kong officials sanctioned; OFAC settles with Indonesian company for North Korea payments.
Week ending 8 January 2021: China rule hits back at foreign sanctions; Confusion over US investment ban on Chinese companies; Trump targets eight more Chinese apps; French bank settles for breaking Syria embargo; Judge halts enforcement of International Criminal Court sanctions.
Week ending 1 January 2021: OFAC FAQs kinda sorta clarify ban on US investments in “Chinese military companies”; Saudi Arabian bank settles for Syria and Sudan payments; Cryptofirm hit with OFAC penalty for giving access to sanctioned countries; Compliance lessons from OFAC’s latest settlements.
2020
Week ending 25 December 2020: Another List! This time of military companies; US Treasury sanctions Syrian first lady’s family; Panama-based coffee exporter sanctioned for Cuba ties; More Belarus and Nicaragua sanctions.
Week ending 18 December 2020: 60 Chinese companies hit with Entity List restrictions; US sanctions Turkey for Russia missile purchase; OFAC targets Venezuelan voting machine company; More EU sanctions for Belarus.
Week ending 11 December 2020: No secondary sanctions on Hong Kong financial institutions (for now); PRC Standing Committee members sanctioned; the EU unveils its long-awaited human rights sanctions regime; US sanctions dozens around the globe for human rights and corruption.
Week ending 4 December 2020: Four companies added to list of so-called “Chinese military companies”; China’s CEIEC sanctioned for Venezuela Internet censorship; US Customs orders hold on all XPCC-origin cotton products; US sanctions 14 People’s Congress members for Hong Kong National Security Law.
Week ending 20 November 2020: Fifty Iranian entities added to US sanctions list; What will Biden do with the JCPOA?; EU plans more Belarus sanctions; Russian company sanctioned for importing North Korean workers.
Week ending 13 November 2020: Trump takes on Chinese military companies; More Hong Kong-related sanctions; Russia threatens counter-sanctions on Germany, France; White House plans “flood” of Iran sanctions before Biden takes over.
Week ending 6 November 2020: What does the US election mean for sanctions?; EU finally sanctions Belarusian president; US sanctions Lebanese political figure; State Department lifts terrorist label from Uyghur separatist group; UK Finance reviews post-Brexit sanctions.
Week ending 30 October 2020: US sanctions Chinese, Hong Kong entities for Iran petrochemical transactions; China announces sanctions for Taiwan arms sales; Trump tightens rules on Cuban remittances; Watch out for sanctioned art, OFAC warns.
Week ending 23 October 2020: Sudan strikes deal to lift terrorism label; China and Hong Kong companies hit with secondary sanctions for Iran shipping; US hits Iran for election interference; EU hits Russia for hacking; Another US company fined for Turkey-Iran trade.
Week ending 16 October 2020: State Department kicks off Hong Kong secondary sanctions timeline; EU agrees to sanction Belarus president; EU sanctions Russians for Navalny poisoning; US targets Iranian financial sector (again).
Week ending 2 October 2020: US, EU, UK, Canada team up on Belarus sanctions; OFAC warns ransomware victims not to breach sanctions; Travel insurer settles Cuba violations; Open Society Justice Initiative sues over US sanctions on International Criminal Court.
Week ending 25 September 2020: Cuba embargo tightened ahead of US election; OFAC extends license for dealings with XPCC subsidiaries; New Hong Kong sanctions FAQ; Wireless company settles for Iran violations caused by Finnish subsidiary; EU sanctions Libyans for human rights abuses, UN arms breaches.
Week ending 18 September 2020: US announces WeChat and TikTok restrictions; China unveils its “Unreliable Entities List”; State Department threatens new Iran secondary sanctions after UN snub; OFAC sanctions Chinese company for Cambodia project; Telecom company settles for Sudan violations.
Week ending 11 September 2020: Deutsche Bank unit fined for Russia-related sanctions mishap; Ukraine lawmaker sanctioned for US election interference; US sanctions Lebanese politicians for Hizbillah ties; North Koreans and Malaysian charged with operating front companies.
Week ending 4 September 2020: US makes good on threat to sanction International Criminal Court; Chinese, Hong Kong firms hit with Iran secondary sanctions; Venezuela politicians sanctioned for being politicians; US issues North Korea missile advisory; GIR publishes its Guide to Sanctions(!).
Week ending 28 August 2020: Defense Department publicizes names of Chinese military companies; US targets Chinese firms for South China Sea construction; UN pushes back on US push for Iran snapback; EU moves ahead with Belarus election sanctions; OFAC targets Hong Kong company for synthetic opioids.
Week ending 21 August 2020: EU readies Belarus sanctions, is US next?; US pushes Security Council to nix Iran deal; US sanctions judges and lawyer in Ugandan adoption scheme; DOJ charges UAE based company for Mahan Air services; more Syria sanctions.
Week ending 14 August 2020: US seizes Iranian gas (on the open seas!); Trump targets ByteDance (again); Security Council rejects US bid for Iran sanctions extension; OFAC settles with individual over SDN tryst.
Week ending 7 August 2020: US sanctions Hong Kong officials; Hong Kong regulators react; White House moves against TikTok and WeChat; UN sanctions African militia leader; OFAC targets Zimbabwe tycoon for corrupt dealings.
Week ending 31 July 2020: US sanctions Chinese entity for Xinjiang business; European Union sanctions cyber attackers; OFAC settles with cookware company for Iran violations; More Syria sanctions; Hong Kong scholars analyze National Security Law Article 29.
Week ending 24 July 2020: US targets Chinese textile companies for Xinjiang forced labor; Venezuelan brothers sanctioned for deals with Maduro’s son; Cyprus extradites Hezbollah money launderer; UN Member States file complaint over North Korea petroleum imports.
Week ending 17 July 2020: Trump unveils Hong Kong sanctions order; OFAC punishes UAE company for North Korea sales; Nord Stream investors could face US secondary sanctions; OFAC sanctions Chinese synthetic opioid operation.
Week ending 10 July 2020: UK launches post-Brexit human rights sanctions program; US sanctions Chinese officials over Xinjiang and Tibet; Amazon fined for OFAC breaches; US lifts sanctions on Eritrea official.
Week ending 3 July 2020: Hong Kong sanctions await Trump’s signature; US agencies publish Xinjiang trade alert; EU sanctions Venezuela officials; DOJ tries to seize Iranian vessels; more comments on Hong Kong sanctions.
Week ending 26 June 2020: US suspends Hong Kong’s export controls status over China National Security Law; The latest on Hong Kong sanctions; OFAC targets Iran metals companies; Switzerland joins Nicaragua sanctions club.
Week ending 19 June 2020: US freezes assets of Nigerian scam artists;Trump signs Uyghur sanctions bill; OFAC targets Syrian elite; Mexico companies targeted for Venezuela trade; Singapore prosecutes North Korea fraud.
Week ending 12 June 2020: Trump threatens to sanction International Criminal Court; US re-sanctions Iranian shipping line; Venezuela’s money man detained in Africa; House Republicans propose major China, Russia sanctions.
Week ending 5 June 2020: Secretary Pompeo talks about Hong Kong sanctions; Congress also talks about Hong Kong sanctions; OFAC sanctions Greek vessels for Venezuelan oil; Marriott pulls out of Cuba.
Week ending 29 May 2020: Trump threatens Hong Kong sanctions, export controls; Congress passes Uyghur sanctions bill; DOJ unseals massive North Korea money laundering charges; Justine Walker reports on humanitarian payments.
Week ending 22 May 2020: Congress takes on China; Commerce Department hits Chinese tech firms for human rights abuses; OFAC sanctions Mahan Air agent in Shanghai; OFAC blacklists Nicaraguan officials.
Week ending 15 May 2020: OFAC issues long-awaited maritime guidance; Senate passes new China sanctions bill; Nynas escapes PdVSA sanctions; Amazon escapes Helms-Burton lawsuit; EU issues guidance on humanitarian trade with Syria.
Week ending 8 May 2020: Congress preps new China sanctions; US agricultural company fined for Cuba sales; FATF report highlights UAE compliance challenges; OFAC updates SDN aliases.
Week ending 1 May 2020: OFAC issues a finding of violation against Amex; OFAC and DOJ target Iranian nationals in tanker purchase scheme; US tightens military export controls on China, Russia, Venezuela; State Department pushes for more UN sanctions on Iran.
Week ending 24 April 2020: Industrial Bank of Korea hit with New York AML/sanctions action; OFAC cuts companies slack amid pandemic; UN sanctions CAR militant leader; GIR names “40 Under 40”.
Week ending 17 April 2020: OFAC encourages humanitarian shipments; UN report finds North Korea sanctions evasion; US warns on North Korea cyber security; Praise for OFAC Director Andrea Gacki.
Week ending 10 April 2020: Former diplomats urge Iran sanctions relief; US accuses Iran of COVID-19 relief “scam”; US labels Russian white supremacists terrorist group; Updated OFAC North Korea sanctions regulations.
Week ending 3 April 2020: Standard Chartered hit with big UK sanctions fine; US pushes Venezuela transition plan; Russia takes over Rosneft’s Venezuela activities; Plus a handy chart of OFAC licenses for COVID-19 shipments.
Week ending 20 March 2020: US hits companies with secondary sanctions for Iran petro-trade; OFAC targets Syrian Defense and new ISIS leader; US State Department knocks France for Iran prisoner swap.
Week ending 13 March 2020: Another Rosneft subsidiary sanctioned; OFAC targets Mexican bakery and sushi bar; OFAC sanctions Zimbabwe officials for human rights abuses; Amazon wins Cuba charcoal case.
Week ending 6 March 2020: OFAC sanctions Chinese nationals for crypto-laundering; Compliance uplift gets Russian company off the SDN List; Cambodia seizes tanker for North Korea transfers; US sanctions Nicaraguan police; OFAC issues FAQ on Iran COVID-19 shipments.
Week ending 28 February 2020: Swiss firm fined after sanctioned airlines access US computer services; US Treasury unveils Swiss-Iran humanitarian channel; UN Security Council sanctions Islamic State splinter groups; OFAC sanctions Lebanese for terrorism support.
Week ending 21 February 2020: OFAC sanctions Rosneft subsidiary; FATF blacklists Iran (again); Europe targets Syrian magnates; OFAC targets Iran election officials; More webinars.
Week ending 14 February 2020: DOJ charges New York and Texas residents for Iran conspiracy; Prosecutors link sanctions and AML in Puerto Rico and Bahrain; State Department green lights North Korea coronavirus aid; Free webinars galore.
Week ending 7 February 2020: DOJ indicts a Canadian resident for Iran payments; US bans Spanish CEO for Cuba hotel business; OFAC puts Venezuela airline on sanctions radar; ACAMS and RUSI launch non-proliferation report.
Week ending 31 January 2020: OFAC lifts secondary sanctions on COSCO subsidiary; Shipping company settles for Myanmar SDN transactions; US, Canada, EU team up for Crimea sanctions; Treasury touts Iran medical shipments.
Week ending 24 January 2020: Hong Kong, China companies hit with secondary sanctions; Lobbying firm settles with OFAC for global terrorism violations; EU slows down on JCPOA break up; Russia, China still home to North Korean workers despite UN sanctions.
Week ending 17 January 2020: Could UN reimpose Iran sanctions under the JCPOA? OFAC targets Venezuelan lawmakers; UK diverges from EU on Hizballah sanctions; Russian SDN loses court battle against Nordic banks.
Week ending 10 January 2020: White House announces new Iran secondary sanctions; EU countries lose patience with Iran on JCPOA; Cuba lawsuit fails in federal court; ACAMS hires global sanctions head.
Week ending 3 January 2020: Iran pulls back from the JCPOA (again) after drone strike; Trump threatens Iraq sanctions; District Court throws out OFAC penalty for unclear regulations; Venezuela heats up (again).
2019
Week ending 27 December 2019: Russia vows to finish Nord Stream 2 pipeline; Congress presses for more sanctions; New York State cashes in on sanctions fines; My top-5 trends in 2019 and predictions for 2020.
Week ending 20 December 2019: Congress gives pipeline sanctions for Christmas; OFAC updates its naughty list; Australia starts a sanctions workshop; Turkey gets a lump of coal. Plus lots of stocking stuffers. Happy holidays, everyone!
Week ending 13 December 2019: OFAC marks Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day with sanctions; Insurance companies fined for Cuba travel policies; More sanctions for Mahan Air agents; OFAC warns about sanctioned art tied to Hizballah.
Week ending 29 November 2019: Trump signs Hong Kong sanctions act into law (with a caveat); OFAC slaps Apple for SDN apps; DOJ charges US citizen for teaching North Korea about crypto; Iran FAQs confirm no secondary sanctions on COSCO subs.
Week ending 22 November 2019: Senate sends Hong Kong sanctions bill to Trump; OFAC sanctions Iran communications minister for internet blackout; Huawei gets another license extension; Singapore national gets prison time for North Korea business.
Week ending 1 November 2019: Senators unveil a new Hong Kong sanctions bill; UK company fined for Syria phone calls; US expands Iran secondary sanctions (again); Zimbabwe minister banned under FORPA2.
Week ending 25 October 2019: So long Turkey-Syria sanctions; OFAC offers a deal on humanitarian trade with Iran; the DOJ seizes a North Korean ship; FATF’s president outlines his objectives at NDB conference.
Week ending 18 October 2019: More on Turkey-Syria sanctions; Halkbank indicted for Iran violations; COSCO Dalian gets a waiver; No more US-origin aircraft for Cuba; Tidbits from the ACI Singapore conference.
Week ending 11 October 2019: US sanctions Turkey for Syria offensive; OFAC sanctions the Guptas in South Africa; CNPC pulls out of Iran’s South Pars; Adobe nixes Photoshop accounts in Venezuela.
Week ending 4 October 2019: GE pays for Cuba-Canada business; OFAC targets Russians for election meddling; Another Treasury official bites the dust; Malaysia’s prime minister slams rich countries’ unilateral sanctions.
Week ending 27 September 2019: COSCO tankers hit with Iran secondary sanctions; Latest Helms-Burton claim targets Havana airport flights; EU targets Venezuelan officials; OFAC lets shipping companies off the hook for dropping Cuba business.
Week ending 20 September 2019: a UK bank pays for Sudan violations; US sanctions Iran’s Central Bank; more Venezuela corruption sanctions; RUSI report eyes UK sanctions after Brexit.
Week ending 13 September 2019: Treasury overhauls terrorism sanctions framework; US sanctions North Korea hackers; Ugandan police official sanctioned for corruption and rights abuses; John Bolton gets his pink slip; Headlines spark Rosneft Venezuela confusion.
Week ending 6 September 2019: US offers big cash for Iranian vessel; Trump admin nixes Cuba U-Turn license; State Department blasts Iran’s space program; OFAC sanctions Iranian shipping network.
Week ending 30 August 2019: OFAC sanctions an oil tanker for defying the US; Executive Order 13224 gets a work out; Iran sanctions a prominent DC think tank; Peter Harrell essays Congress’ power over sanctions.
Week ending 23 August 2019: Trump “hereby orders” a confusing tweet; Huawei gets a reprieve (kind of); the EU talks forest fire sanctions; OFAC sanctions opioid makers in China.
Week ending 16 August 2019: Gibraltar repels US warrant against Iranian tanker; An SDN’s bankruptcy leads to an OFAC fine; Singapore charges local company for North Korea wine sales; US bans a Sudan official for torture history.
Week ending 9 August 2019: US inches closer to a Venezuela embargo; UN mission calls for new Myanmar sanctions; OFAC settlement over Iran truck sales; Lebanese SDN sentenced to 5 years in US prison; NordLB tries to seize vessels for Iran voyages.
Week ending 2 August 2019: White House gives in to new Russia sanctions; OFAC sanctions Iran’s chief diplomat; Visa bans are all the rage; US Court of Appeals upholds contempt order against Chinese banks.
Week ending 26 July 2019: Chinese oil firm hit with US secondary sanctions; OFAC warns about Iranian airlines; Indictments for North Korea trade; US follows UN with new Mali sanctions.
Week ending 19 July 2019: The Pacific Bravo gets a makeover; the Trump administration sanctions human rights abuses in Iraq, Myanmar, Venezuela; Societe Generale hit with 792 million Cuba lawsuit.
Week ending 12 July 2019: Gibraltar and Iran haggle over a detained vessel; Rumors fly about a Trump DPRK deal; the PRC threatens US firms with Taiwan sanctions.
Week ending 28 June 2019: Chinese banks held in contempt over North Korea subpoenas; Trump sanctions Iran’s supreme leader; Trivago sued for Cuban hotel bookings; OFAC mints more Venezuelan SDNs.
Week ending 21 June 2019: OFAC sanctions the Four Seasons in Damascus; Travel agencies fined for violating the Cuba embargo; Canada targets Nicaraguan officials; OFAC sanctions a Russian bank for DPRK business.
Week ending 7 June 2019: the US says “no mas” to Cuba cruises; OFAC settles with Western Union; Iran’s petrochemical sector gets sanctioned; the DOJ cracks a scheme to get airline parts to Iran.
Week ending 31 May 2019: China threatens a new sanctions list; Treasury and State clash on EU-Iran trade; Hong Kong snubs US secondary sanctions; ACI hosts its Hong Kong Sanctions Summit.
Week ending 24 May 2019: Huawei gets a reprieve (kind of); OFAC targets an online pharmacy; the US Senate eyes South China Sea sanctions; India and Turkey await S-400 missile sanctions; the WSJ reports on a Venezuelan graft scheme.
Week ending 17 May 2019: Huawei gets put on the Entity List; OFAC targets human rights abuses; the UN sanctions ISIL in Asia; new EU cyber-attack sanctions.
Week ending 10 May 2019: Iran teases JCPOA withdrawal; OFAC rewards a defecting Venezuelan official; the US seizes a North Korea ship; OFAC expands Iran and Venezuela sanctions.
Week ending 3 May 2019: Carnival gets sued for Cuba cruises; OFAC gives some helpful compliance guidance; Chinese banks subpoenaed for North Korea transactions; the UN sanctions a Pakistan militant.
Week ending 26 April 2019: No more Iran oil waivers; China, Turkey and India defy US sanctions; a new Russia OFAC settlement; OFAC foments dissent in Venezuela.
Week ending 19 April 2019: Trump unleashes Helms-Burton on Cuba; the US takes on the troika of tyranny; Canada sanctions Venezuelan officials; UniCredit settles OFAC violations for $1.3 billion.
Week ending 12 April 2019: New OFAC settlements for SCB; an OFAC case involving private equity subsidiaries; Pakistan joins the fight against terrorism; and an ACAMS podcast featuring OFAC’s former director.
Week ending 5 April 2019: OFAC eyes Cuba in push for Venezuela oil sanctions; Congress cooks up two new sanctions bills; North Korea can’t quit those ship-to-ship transfers; the US labels part of Iran’s military a terrorist group.
Week ending 29 March 2019: OFAC drills Black & Decker for Iran violations; Trump’s North Korea tweet still confuses everyone; Treasury doubles down on Iran sanctions; OFAC updates its Syria petroleum guidance.
Week ending 22 March 2019: Trump tweet spoils new North Korea sanctions; Canada sanctions Russia; OFAC targets Venezuela’s development bank; Iraq gets a new Iran sanctions waiver.
Week ending 8 March 2019: North Korea loves cryptocurrency; the DOJ indicts Venezuela’s former VP; new Cuba sanctions land with a thud; the US sanctions an Iraqi militia for supporting Iran.
Week ending 1 March 2019: Trump threatens Cuba doomsday sanctions; the UK has its first sanctions penalty; a Boeing got stuck in Iran; the UN sanctions bin Laden’s son.
Week ending 22 February 2019: Another OFAC case involving Iran trade; OFAC sanctions a whole family in Dubai; OPEC sticks by Venezuela; and a state-owned bank in India profits from Iran petroleum.
Week ending 15 February 2019: OFAC fines a German company for Cuba business; the US sanctions more Venezuelan officials; the sanctions bill from hell is back.
Week ending 8 February 2019: OFAC targets Turkey-Iran trade; North Korea evades UN sanctions; the FBI raids a Puerto Rico bank; a US ambassador threatens EU firms about Iran business (again).
Week ending 1 February 2019: Florida sanctions Airbnb (really); OFAC goes for the jugular in Venezuela; the EU launches its Iran payments vehicle; North Korea exports false eyelashes.
Week ending 25 January 2019: Wolfsberg publishes a must-read sanctions guidance; the DOJ indicts Huawei; Germany bans Mahan Air; all roads lead to Damascus.
Week ending 18 January 2019: Congress fails to block OFAC’s deal with a Russian oligarch; the US eyes Venezuela oil sanctions; Congress plans more China sanctions.
Week ending 11 January 2019: The EU sanctions Iran officials; some OFAC employees are disgruntled; OFAC sanctions a Venezuelan TV network; Venezuela takes the US to the WTO.
Week ending 4 January 2019: How the US government shutdown slows sanctions; OFAC lets some Russian companies off the hook; Oleg Deripaska is still on the naughty list; the EU continues its Russia sanctions.
2018
Week ending 14 December 2018: Awaiting news on Huawei’s CFO; OFAC settles with a Chinese oil firm; OFAC sanctions South Sudan weapons dealers; the EU targets Ukrainian separatists.
Week ending 7 December 2018: Huawei’s CFO gets picked up in Canada; HSBC’s monitor pointed the finger; an SDN pleads guilty for laundering his own funds; Siemens employees are under investigation for Crimean turbines.
Week ending 30 November 2018: OFAC sanctions bitcoin addresses; the DOJ announces big North Korea and Iran cases; Canada sanctions 17 Saudi nationals; did the EU ban MBS?
Week ending 23 November 2018: Société Générale gets hit with a $1.34 billion settlement, the EU sanctions Saudis for l’affaire Khashoggi, OFAC uncovers an Iran-Russia-Syria oil scheme.
Week ending 16 November 2018: OFAC sanctions 17 Saudi officials for journalist’s killing; Congress urges China sanctions; the Trump administration promotes human rights with the Magnitsky Act (really).
Week ending 9 November 2018: Iran secondary sanctions are back (with some exceptions), OFAC sanctions a luxury hotel in Crimea, RUSAL gets its sixth reprieve, I argue that the EU is doing Trump a favor by doing business in Iran.
Week ending 2 November 2018: Iran secondary sanctions are back in force; Trump targets Venezuelan gold; John Bolton threatens Cuba and Nicaragua; I share some key points from a sanctions summit.
Week ending 26 October 2018: Bank of Kunlun drops its Iran business; the DOJ indicts a Singapore national for North Korea trade; a Russian oligarch sues EU banks; Australia punishes Myanmar military officers.
Week ending 5 October 2018: OFAC fines JPMorgan; Iran gets a boost at the ICJ; OFAC hits the Yakuza; India defies the US to buy Russian missiles.
Week ending 28 September 2018: Europe plans a new Iran payment system; North Korea launders cryptocurrency; OFAC sanctions Maduro’s wife.
Week ending 21 September 2018: US sanctions Chinese military purchases from Russia; RUSAL gets another OFAC reprieve; Mnuchin accidentally sanctions Deripaska; North Korea evades.
Week ending 14 September 2018: John Bolton threatens to sanction the ICC; the EU Court upholds Russia designations; OFAC bags another Mahan Air agent; Trump orders election interference sanctions.
Week ending 7 September 2018: a US official threatens EU companies on Iran; the US weighs measures concerning Maldives; OFAC targets a North Korea hacker; my comments on the problem with unnamed sources.
Week ending 31 August 2018: Iran and the USA appear at the ICJ; the FBI tries to flip Deripaska; members of Congress want China sanctions; SCB faces another fine.
Week ending 24 August 2018: OFAC designates more Russians; Air France, KLM, and BA pull out of Iran; the Commerce Department plays favorites; the EU blocking regulation is Swiss cheese.
Week ending 10 August 2018: Trump reimposes Iran secondary sanctions; the US sanctions Russia for chemical weapons; OFAC wins in DC court; RUSAL stock is up.
Week ending 3 August 2018: OFAC targets Turkey; a Russian bank gets blocked for North Korea transactions; the Best Western quits Crimea.
Week ending 20 July 2018: Tesla batteries spark Cuba sanctions concerns; Iran takes the USA to the ICJ; OFAC might let RUSAL off the hook. Plus a fun fact.
Week ending 13 July 2018: An update on Exxon’s case against OFAC; the US accuses North Korea of breaking UN sanctions; South Sudan gets an arms embargo; Mnuchin says no Iran waiver for France.
Week ending 6 July 2018: The Trump admin waivers on sanctions waivers, the EU extends its sectoral sanctions against Russia, Taiwan prosecutes a North Korea sanctions evader.
Week ending 29 June 2018: OFAC pulls JCPOA licenses; Magnitsky sanctions take off; Myanmar fires a sanctioned general; some thoughts on the Trump admin’s communication style.
Week ending 22 June 2018: ZTE can’t fix its toilets; the EU is asked to sanction Trump; Sistema is in the cross-hairs; a US official defends the JCPOA withdrawal.
Week ending 8 June 2018: JCPOA developments; OFAC penalizes Ericsson; ZTE gets a second chance; an SDN sues his bankers.
Week ending 25 May 2018: RUSAL executives and directors try to appease OFAC, Mike Pence disses Venezuela, the UK gets a Brexit sanctions law, fake news about China sanctions.
Week ending 18 May 2018: The EU unleashes the blocking statute; a Turkish banker goes to prison, RUSAL tries to wriggle away from OFAC.
Week ending 11 May 2018: Trump backs out of the JCPOA, the UAE sanctions Iran too, OFAC is underfunded.
Week ending 27 April 2018: OFAC plays nice with RUSAL (kind of), Huawei is in the DOJ cross hairs, the EU eyes new Myanmar sanctions.
Week ending 13 April 2018: Russia sanctions take a bite, John Smith resigns from OFAC; North Korea, Iran, and Syria simmer.
Week ending 6 April 2018: My views on Friday’s big OFAC sanctions against Russia; the UN pressures North Korea; Iran evasion makes headlines.
Week ending 23 March 2018: Cyber activity is front and center; OFAC targets Iranian hackers; Trump sanctions Venezuela cryptocurrencies; the State Department dings South Sudan’s oil companies.
Week ending 16 March 2018: The UN Panel of Experts report on North Korea is out; OFAC sanctioned Russians for hacking; the Iran deal is back in the news.
Week ending 9 March 2018: North Korea gets sanctioned for chemical weapons; a property company in Australia gets caught trading North Korean coal; Anahita Thoms writes about cryptocurrency.
Week ending 2 March 2018: Exxon Mobil retreats from Rosneft; the Trump administration eyes punishing Chinese banks; 38 North publishes a great analysis on North Korea.
Week ending 23 February 2018: OFAC hits North Korea with “largest ever” sanctions (really?); Latvia’s ABLV Bank goes under after FinCEN action; Citgo feels the pinch from US Venezuela restrictions.
Week ending 16 February 2018: The US Treasury hits Latvia’s 3rd largest bank with a section 311 designation for North Korea transactions; Canada sanctions a Myanmar general for human rights abuses; Zimbabwe faces a US sanctions renewal.
Week ending 9 February 2018: North Korea gets sanctions relief for the Olympics; Tillerson presses for a Venezuela oil embargo; the DOJ moves to strip a sanctions evader of his US citizenship.
Week ending 2 February 2018: the US targets Russian elites; North Korea sells weapons to Syria; South Sudan faces an arms embargo.
Week ending 26 January 2018: The US Treasury calls out China and Hong Kong on North Korea sanctions; OFAC sides with Siemens over turbines in Crimea; Japan reports suspicious activity to the UN.
Week ending 19 January 2018: A top sanctions expert leaves the US government; Canada hosts a coalition against North Korea, OFAC comes out against Venezuela’s digital currency.
Week ending 12 January 2018: Happy MLK Jr Day to my friends in the USA. Donald Trump thumps the JCPOA again; Taiwan upholds UN sanctions; plus more.
Week ending 5 January 2018: Turkey faces scrutiny; South Korea seizes vessels; Russia and Venezuela look to cryptocurrencies for sanctions relief.
2017
Week ending 1 December 2017: Turkey is under the sanctions microscope; a breakthrough in the Russia sanctions intrigue; the United Nations targets human trafficking in Libya.
Week ending 3 November 2017: ACI holds a conference in Singapore; Canada sanctions dozens under the Magnitsky law; and human rights activists call for new Myanmar sanctions.
Week ending 27 October 2017: The State Department finally gets around to complying with CAATSA; OFAC teams up with Saudi Arabia on Yemen sanctions; a Zimbabwean bank enters the cross hairs.
Week ending 13 October 2017: Trump continues a one-man crusade against Iran; the Rohingya crisis could lead to sanctions for Myanmar’s military; and the UN sanctions North Korea’s boats.
Week ending 6 October 2017: OFAC plans to nix Sudan sanctions; OFAC dings company for Sudan paper shipments; Iraq sanctions Kurdish banks.
Week ending 8 September 2017: Bankers face prison time for sanctions violations; the United States bullies the Security Council; New York State expels Habib Bank for failing at compliance.
Week ending 25 August 2017: Apple snubs Iranian app developers; Venezuela hit with new US sanctions; the Trump admin learns to love OFAC.
Week ending 11 August 2017: The United Nations sanctions North Korea; OFAC designates a Mexican soccer star; and more.
Week ending 4 August 2017: OFAC sanctions Venezuela’s president; the EU takes Siemens’ side in a Crimea dispute; the UK previews its Brexit sanctions strategy; President Trump signs a new sanctions law.
Week ending 28 July 2017: a new Iran-North Korea-Russia sanctions law; an OFAC enforcement case; and more.
Week ending 21 July 2017: Exxon gets hit with an OFAC penalty; the US targets Iranian hackers; Latvia keeps fining banks for North Korea trade.
Week ending 14 July 2017: The US hit pause on Sudan; China faced pressure on North Korea; and more.
Week ending 7 July 2017: Total and Volkswagen strike new Iran deals; the DOJ hunts down North Korean money; Siemens faces a potential Crimea sanctions violation.
Week ending 30 June 2017: North Korea takes center stage; a new OFAC enforcement case involving AIG; a major asset seizure decision against Iran.
Week ending 23 June 2017: Sanctions against Russia grow; the EU takes on cyber threats; and more.
Week ending 16 June 2017: Tweaks to US Cuba sanctions; the Senate passes a new Russia/Sanctions bill; the Qatar embargo continues.
Week ending 9 June 2017: Another week, another round of sanctions news. Congress could sanction Russia and Iran in one go. Plus a new OFAC settlement.
Week ending 2 June 2017: The UN and OFAC target North Korea; Russia ends Turkey sanctions; the US and EU cooperate on Democratic Republic of Congo sanctions.
Week ending 26 May 2017: I read the news so you don’t have to — here are the latest happenings in the world of economic sanctions, including a major development from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
Week ending 19 May 2017: The US waives Iran sanctions; Canada plans Magnitsky-style sanctions; the UN condemns North Korea testing; and OFAC sanctions a slew of targets.
(The views expressed are my own and do not constitute legal advice. Photo from Vladislav Reshetnyak.)
