Tagged: ofac

Uncategorized

3 Aug, 2020

OFAC On A Roll: Whitford Worldwide Company Agrees to Pay $824k for Violations of Iran Sanctions

When you are hot, you are hot. (And when you are not, you are not; Thank you Jerry Reed, Country Singer). OFAC is hot and resumed its enforcement streak, settling three enforcement actions in three weeks. The latest settlement involved Whitford Worldwide Company (Whitford”), a cookware manufacturer based in Pennsylvania, which agreed to pay $824,314 for violations of the Iran Sanctions. Whitford’s liability stemmed from...

Uncategorized

12 May, 2020

Despite Pandemic, OFAC Settles with Animal Nutrition Company for $257k for Violations of Cuban Sanctions Program

OFAC announced a $257k settlement with Biomin America, Inc. (“Biomin”), an animal nutrition company based in Overland, Kansas, to settle violations of the Cuban Sanctions Program. OFAC recently issued guidance suggesting that organizations may re-allocate or reduce sanctions compliance operations based on the impact of the pandemic on an organization’s business activities. Notwithstanding this guidance, OFAC announced this enforcement action, the first in several months,...

General

9 Apr, 2020

Videoconferencing and Export Controls

Janet Longo, Regulatory Compliance Analyst at The Volkov Law Group, joins us for a posting on videoconferencing and compliance export controls. Janet can be reached at [email protected]. As the Covid-19 virus is proliferating, so is the practice of conducting business through videoconferencing from home. While many commentators have discussed the serious data privacy and security problems associated with video conferencing, we’ve been thinking about the...

Events

18 Mar, 2020

Webinar: How to Implement an Effective OFAC Sanctions Compliance Program

Webinar: How to Implement an Effective OFAC Sanctions Compliance Program 12 Noon EST, March 31, 2020 Sign Up HERE In 2019, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) issued important guidance on sanctions compliance programs. OFAC’s guidance sets out new and prescriptive requirements for sanctions compliance programs. At the same time, OFAC has ramped up enforcement efforts. The Justice Department revised its...

General

1 Aug, 2019

Digging into High-Risk Distributors (Part II of II)

Compliance professionals are implementing their own monitoring and auditing strategies. Internal audit does not have the resources nor the time to assume responsibility for this function. If possible, internal audit may support, advise and assist in the monitoring and auditing functions. Frankly, a partnership between compliance and internal audit in this area is ideal but compliance cannot wait for internal audit to join the mission. ...

General

31 Jul, 2019

Managing High-Risk Distributor Risks (Part I of II)

Companies will often rely on a network of distributors to help sell their products in emerging markets. From a business economics standpoint, engaging a distributor is often more cost efficient than investing in a sales force in a new market. As a result, companies may enter a new market by relying on distributors, and if successful, may invest in the future by establishing its own...

Podcasts

17 Feb, 2019

Episode 77 — Implementing an Effective Trade Compliance Program

Companies involved in export and import activities face a variety of risks from sanctions and export controls created by a complex maze of regulations and oversight from the Department of State, Department of Treasury and the Department of Commerce. With the increasing complexity of sanctions regimes, companies have to devote significant attention and resources to implement an effective trade compliance program. In this episode, Michael...

Uncategorized

27 Nov, 2018

OFAC Completes Re-Imposition of Iran Sanctions

On November 5, 2018 the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) completed the process to re-impose the Iran sanctions program. The 180-day wind-down period for termination of the United States’ participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) ended. As part of the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions, OFAC added more than 700 individuals, entities, aircraft, and vessels to the SDN List,...

General

18 Oct, 2018

JP Morgan Chase Bank Settles “Old” Sanctions Case for $5 Million

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) announced its third enforcement action for 2018. While OFAC has been busy with implementing new sanctions regimes and re-imposing the Iran sanctions regime, OFAC is beginning to clear some of the enforcement matters that have been pending. JP Morgan Chase agreed to a $5.2 million settlement with OFAC for 87 apparent violations from the processing of...

Uncategorized

29 Aug, 2018

OFAC Begins to Re-Impose Iran Sanctions and Expands Reach of Previous Sanctions

The Trump Administration issued a new executive order on August 6, 2018, in order to reimpose the first tranche of the Iran sanctions lifted by the former Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”). In doing so, the executive order consolidates relevant sanctions authorities and broadens the scope of the previous restrictions. Companies will now have to comply with a renewed set of secondary sanctions, and...