On June 29, 2015, the Government of Canada amended the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations (the “Ukraine Regulations”) to impose specific sanctions against the Crimea region of Ukraine, and added a number of persons to the lists of designated persons under Schedule 1 and Schedule 3 of the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the “Russia Regulations”). These amendments to the Ukraine and Russia Regulations came into immediate effect on June 29, 2015. With respect to the…
On 1 July 2015, the Swiss Government (Federal Council) decreed additional rules on the implementation of the import ban for war material from Russia and Ukraine. To that end it amended the Ordinance on Measures to prevent the Circumvention of International Sanctions connected with the Situation in Ukraine, effective as of 1 July, 6pm CET. The new rules prohibit the import of firearms, their components, accessories, ammunition and ammunition components from Russia and Ukraine,…
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) has posted notice of a Consultation regarding the possible addition of Ukraine to the Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL), a list of countries that the Government of Canada has deemed it appropriate to permit the export of these items to and with which the Government of Canada has signed an intergovernmental defence, research, development and production arrangement. There are currently 39 countries listed on the AFCCL. The…
On 3 June 2015, the WTO announced that Australia has formally launched its bid to join the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), underlining its commitment to work towards timely accession to the pact. The announcement was made at a 3 June meeting of the Committee on Government Procurement where progress was also reported on the accession bids of several pending applicants. Australia said it planned to submit an initial market access offer for GPA accession…
On May 22, 2015, the Department of the Treasury, in consultation and coordination with the Department of Commerce, published Ukraine-related General License No. 9, “Exportation of Certain Services and Software Incident to Internet-Based Communications Authorized.” OFAC also published a related Frequently Asked Question.
On May 22, 2015, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 150302205-5205-01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to facilitate Internet-based communications with persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine. The final rule allows exports or reexports without a license to the Crimea region of Ukraine of software that is necessary to enable the exchange of personal communications over the Internet, provided that such…
On May 7, 2015, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) revised existing FAQs 395 and 419 and issued a new FAQ regarding Ukraine-related sanctions.
Australia imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans relating to Russia against designated persons and entities in June and September 2014. Expanded sanctions were announced in September 2014. Following a consultation period, the expanded regime, Autonomous Sanctions (Russia, Crimea and Sevastopol) Specification 2015, has just taken effect. The expanded sanctions restrict: • export to and import from Russia of arms and related materiel; • export to Russia of specified items for use in petroleum exploration and…
On 5 March 2015, it was announced that the European Council has extended the pre-existing restrictive measures against eighteen individuals. These individuals, including the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, have been subject to investigations regarding the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds. The sanctions have been adjusted in order to reflect the progression of these investigations; and have been extended by a year for fourteen of the individuals listed, and by three months for the…