Author: Alex Cotoia

OFAC Issues Broad Iran General License Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Negotiations

On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued General License X (“GL X”), authorizing a broad range of transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the production, sale, delivery, or offloading of Iranian-origin crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products through August 21, 2026. The authorization applies notwithstanding prohibitions imposed under multiple Iran-related sanctions authorities and expressly...

BIS Resolves Antiboycott Enforcement Action Against Colt’s Manufacturing Company

On May 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”), through its Office of Antiboycott Compliance, issued an Order resolving an antiboycott enforcement matter involving Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC (“Colt”) arising under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The matter was resolved through a Settlement Agreement pursuant to which Colt admitted to the conduct described in a Proposed Charging Letter alleging...

EU Export Controls Continue to Evolve Beyond Traditional Dual-Use Frameworks

The European Commission recently published an Information Note concerning measures adopted by Member States under Regulation (EU) 2021/821, the European Union’s framework governing the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit, and transfer of dual-use items. Although administrative in structure, the report provides meaningful insight into the continuing evolution of export controls across the European Union and highlights the increasingly significant role that Member States...

China’s Expanding Countersanctions Framework and the Growing Divide Between Beijing and Washington

The regulatory and compliance tensions between the United States and China continue to intensify as Beijing expands its legal framework for countering foreign sanctions, export controls, and other forms of what it characterizes as improper extraterritorial jurisdiction. Recent Chinese measures, including the Regulations on Countering Improper Extraterritorial Jurisdiction by Foreign States and the State Council’s Provisions on Industrial and Supply Chain Security, reflect a broader...

Treasury Proposes AML/CFT and Sanctions Compliance Requirements for Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers

The Treasury Department, through a coordinated rulemaking effort involving OFAC and FinCEN, has taken a significant step toward formalizing anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance expectations for a rapidly evolving segment of the financial services industry—permitted payment stablecoin issuers. The recently issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reflects a deliberate attempt to bring these entities squarely within the ambit of the Bank Secrecy Act framework, while at...

BIS Imposes Suspended $1.7 Million Penalty on Coastal PVA Technology for Unlicensed Exports to Entity List Parties

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued an Order resolving an administrative enforcement action involving Coastal PVA Technology, Inc., a California-based manufacturer of polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) brushes used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. The action arises under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) and follows the issuance of a Proposed Charging Letter alleging multiple violations stemming from exports to restricted parties in...

BIS Imposes Civil Penalty on Thales Defense & Security for Antiboycott Violations

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”), through its Office of Antiboycott Compliance, recently issued an Order resolving an administrative enforcement action involving Thales Defense & Security, Inc. arising under the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The matter stems from conduct occurring in 2019 in connection with a transaction involving the United Arab Emirates and resulted in the...

BIS Imposes $1.6 Million Civil Penalty in Enforcement Action Involving Unlicensed Exports to Entity List Parties

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued an Order resolving an administrative enforcement matter involving Solventum Corporation of St. Paul, Minnesota, arising under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). BIS had previously notified Solventum of its intent to initiate administrative proceedings through the issuance of a Proposed Charging Letter alleging two violations of the Regulations. The matter...

BIS Imposes $1.5 Million Penalty on Exyte for Unlicensed In-Country Transfers to SMIC

On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued an Order resolving an administrative enforcement action against Exyte Management GmbH, a Germany-based company headquartered in Stuttgart, in connection with alleged violations of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The action arose from conduct occurring between March 2021 and March 2022 and involved in-country transfers of items subject to the...

BIS Imposes $374,474 Civil Penalty on Hallewell Ventures and Albert Avdolyan for Unlicensed Reexport of Bombardier Aircraft to Russia

On September 30, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”), U.S. Department of Commerce, announced an administrative settlement with Hallewell Ventures, Ltd. (“Hallewell”) and its beneficial owner, Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan, arising from an unauthorized reexport of a Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft to Russia in March 2022. The matter concludes with a $374,474 civil penalty, payable within thirty days of the order, and conditions...