The Justice Department announced the unsealing of a warrant authorizing the seizure of 41 internet domains used by Russian intelligence agents and their proxies to commit computer fraud and abuse in the United States. As an example of public-private operational collaboration the Department acted concurrently with a Microsoft civil action to restrain 66 internet domains used by the same actors

After a particularly slow second quarter, FCPA enforcement activity picked up between July and September of 2024, with the DOJ initiating one new FCPA-related enforcement action, unsealing two previously filed actions, and issuing one declination letter, according to a tally from Stanford University's FCPA Clearinghouse. "Enforcement activity through Q3 of this year remained well below even the last three years of lower than average enforcement" the report notes

The Board of Directors at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) last week voted to approve a Non-Binding Resolution in Support of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Financings to reaffirm its support for critical minerals transactions. The resolution amplifies EXIM’s current efforts to utilize its lending and underwriting tools to support critical minerals and rare earths projects. 

For the first time,  steel and artificial sweetener companies have been added to the UFLPA Entity List.  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by Baowu Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. and Changzhou Guanghui Food Ingredients Co., Ltd.

Before the Commerce Department's U.S. Commercial Service can provide export-related services to clients, such as assistance with identifying potential partners or providing due diligence, specific information is required to determine the client’s business objectives and needs. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on July 29, 2024, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

Determinedly beating the drum for steelworker votes and economic populism, two of the leading Senate opponents of the purchase of US Steel by a Japanese rival drew attention to the executive compensation of the Pittsburgh steelmaker. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) sent a letter to US Steel CEO David Burritt outlining their concerns. with plans for the firm's current and former top executives to receive payments totaling over $156 million – not including $40.8 million in payments to non-employee board members.

Developing and developed members applauded the EU decision to postpone the implementation of its new Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) for twelve months.   This regulation, which was set to take effect on 30 December 2024, will require a variety of agricultural products sold in the EU market to be "deforestation-free," meaning they must not result from recent (post-31 December 2020) deforestation, forest degradation, or breaches of local environmental and social laws.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has updated some of its Beneficial Ownership Information Frequently Asked Questions and issued several additional ones. The topics covered are: …

House Republican national security leadership called for the White House to expand license-free defense trade among the U.S., U.K., and Australia to ensure the success of AUKUS Pillar Two and …

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published its second quarterly update of the boycott Requester List October 1st.  This list notifies companies, financial institutions, freight forwarders, individuals, and other U.S. persons of potential sources of certain boycott-related requests they may receive during the regular course of business. Of note, many recent reports come from customers outside the Arab world, including Japan, Brazil, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.   The greatest number of non-arab boycott requests originated in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan. 

Litigants in London lined up this week as the High Court considers insurance claims  on the more nearly 500 western-built commercial aircraft stranded in Russia since February 2022. Insurers, including AIG and Lloyd's of London contend the stranded fleet is not a total loss, and the aircraft may be recovered.   Claimants, including leasing giant AerCap are reportedly seeking up to $3 billion from insurers.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed a civil penalty of $151,875 against Quantum Corporation, a data storage, management, and protection company  to resolve 45 alleged violations of the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  Between July 2018 and December 2019, Quantum received 45 requests from its customer, a distributor located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to refrain from importing goods of Israeli origin into the UAE in fulfillment of purchase orders from that customer. Quantum failed to report to BIS the receipt of these requests.  

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced an administrative settlement against a Texas aviation supply firm, for the submission of a backdated document to make it appear that a transaction complied with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and for exporting military parts without BIS authorization.  

The Department of Commerce has expanded the Validated End User (VEU) program with additional controls for data center items destined for China and India. Data Center VEU adopts much of the framework of the existing VEU program, with additional requirements. This expansion of eligibility is intended to update the VEU program to recognize the advancement and benefits of artificial intelligence.

On Monday, September 23, DOJ’s Criminal Division announced updates to its guidance for evaluating corporate compliance programs (“ECCP”). . Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri discussed the revisions in her remarks at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute, emphasizing the DOJ's efforts to encourage corporations to invest in robust compliance programs and report misconduct when it occurs.

The Justice Department Friday unsealed an indictment charging three Iranian nationals with a conspiracy to hack into accounts of current and former U.S. officials, members of the media, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals associated with U.S. political campaigns.

An FAA contractor was indicted Friday for illegally acting as an agent of the Iranian governement to obtain information on the FAA's electrical power systems. Abouzar Rahmati (42)  exploited his employment with a US company whichs upported the FAA on a contract related to the power and electrical architecture of the FAA’s National Airspace System (NAS)..

BIS Chief Alan Estevez dismissed an appeal of a Temporary Denial Order issued in June against Russian national Alexey Sumchenko for his activities smuggling aircraft parts through Hong Kong to Russian airline customers.  Sumchenko argued that the alleged misconduct outlined in the TDO occurred after he relinquished ownership of the entities, reasoning Judge Tommy Cantrell found unpersuasive.

On 25 September 2024, the EU and US held an in-depth technical discussion with transatlantic social partner stakeholders under the Trade and Labour Dialogue (TALD), focused on ways to eradicate forced labour from supply chains and ensure a successful, just and inclusive green transition.

  House Republicans spent their waning days in Washington before heading home to campaign promoting initiatives targeting economic cooperation with the Chinese. Proposals include setting up a specialized trade prosecution task force in the Department of Justice, penalizing investment in the China, revoking Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Beijing, and singling out two display makers as Chinese military companies.