Month: September 2019

On 30^th September, OFAC took action against Russian actors that attempted to influence the 2018 US midterm elections, though it says that there was no indication that foreign actors were able to compromise election infrastructure that would have prevented voting, changed vote counts, or disrupted the tallying of votes.  It also further targets Yevgeniy Prigozhin by targeting his physical assets, including 3 aircraft and a yacht, as well as employees of the Internet Research Agency (designated in March 2018), which he finances.  The measures are the first use of sanctions under Executive Order 13848, which the President signed in September 2018 and was intended as a warning all countries that they may face sanctions should they interfere in US elections.  Several members of the Internet Research Agency are designated for being involved in attempting to interfere in US elections – 4 of them already being designated under earlier actions.  The assets of Prigozhin listed include 2 Isle of Man-registered business jets.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm787

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20190930.aspx

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On 30^th September, the House of Commons Library published a briefing paper in advance of a Westminster Hall general debate on the ‘Sanctions policy and implementation’ scheduled for 3^rd October.  It says that the debate on UK sanctions policy and implementation takes place against a fast-changing background, and that the UK courts are likely to be crucial in shaping policy; it is possible that there will be a big increase in litigation under the new system.

http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2019-0218/CDP-2019-0218.pdf

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 23^rd September, the Department for Transport and others published guidance on process flow for freight roll-on, roll-off (RORO) imports and exports between the UK and the EU for a no-deal Brexit (but notably excluding Northern Ireland).  The information is also available in a downloadable pocket guide.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-move-goods-through-roro-locations-in-a-no-deal-brexit-eu-to-uk-and-uk-to-eu

The downloadable guide is at –

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/833286/what-haulier-drivers-should-do-moving-goods-through-rollon-rolloff-roro-locations-eu-to-uk.pdf

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

The EU has a dedicated website, in all official languages, providing information and links on what EU businesses should do in the event of a UK withdrawal.  This includes a checklist for traders who might do business with or through the UK and a leaflet described as a “Customs Guide for Business”.

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/uk_withdrawal_en

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

Japan Today on 29^th September published an article saying that North Korea is evading UN sanctions to cash in on soaring domestic demand for smartphones, using low-cost hardware imports to generate significant income for the regime, according to defectors, experts and an analysis of North Korean-made phones.  It says that economists estimate as many as 6 million North Koreans – a quarter of the population – now have mobile phones.  The phones feature Taiwanese semiconductors, batteries made in China and a version of Google’s open-source Android operating system, analysis of the North Korean phones revealed.  North Korean phones can only be used to call domestic numbers and have some unique security features, e.g. downloading or transferring files is severely restricted.

https://japantoday.com/category/tech/insight-how-a-sanctions-busting-smartphone-business-thrives-in-north-korea

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

An article from Carey Olsen on 20 September says that the case of Verga v Nedbank shows that if regulated businesses comply with their duties then the law will protect them.  In the case, the claimant argued that the bank defamed or otherwise wronged him in the course of reporting various matters to the police, who had then initiated an investigation which resulted in criminal proceedings being brought in which he was ultimately found not guilty.  In a case said to be of real importance and relevance, the Royal Court struck out the claims on the basis that the bank could claim immunity from suit and also that the claim was time barred.

https://www.careyolsen.com/briefings/jersey-protects-financial-institutions-reporting-suspicions

 

On 27 September, Baker McKenzie reported that the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Committee earmarked $2 million in Trad- Based Money Laundering (TBML) risk assessment funding in the FY 2020 budget.  It would allow FinCEN to analyse the threat TBML poses on national security. TBML encompasses cartels and terrorist organisations’ hijacking international trade networks to transfer funds across international borders. A senator who helped frame the move is quoted as saying that trade-based money laundering is America’s biggest national security threat that almost no one is paying attention to.

http://www.riskandcompliancehub.com/us-senate-earmarks-2m-to-combat-trade-based-money-laundering/

 

RUSI has issued the latest paper in its Project Sandstone series about North Korea, which uncovers North Korea’s links with UK companies.  It suggests that UK shell companies are used to disguise a network of commercial cargo vessels exporting North Korean coal in violation of UN and EU sanctions.  It names ships owned by UK front companies, registered at ‘unit’ addresses in London, with owners and operators in China.  

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7d0ec91a-dddb-11e9-8221-1b98fc56091e

https://rusi.org/publication/other-publications/project-sandstone-report-4-north-koreas-coal-smuggling-networks

 

On 27 September, HM Treasury issued a Notice saying that 7 names had been added to the sanctions Consolidated List following EU Regulation 2019/1586/EU.  7 members of the Venezuelan security and intelligence forces.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/834973/Notice_Venezuela_2019_1586.pdf

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2019.248.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2019:248:TOC

 

On 26 September, the State Department publicly designated Raul Modesto Castro Ruz, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and First Secretary of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.  As a result, he and his immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the US. The Department is also publicly designating his children, Alejandro Castro Espin, Deborah Castro Espin, Mariela Castro Espin, and Nilsa Castro Espin.

https://www.state.gov/public-designation-of-raul-castro-due-to-involvement-in-gross-violations-of-human-rights/