Biden will tread carefully on sanctions, seek international consensus, experts say
Experts believe President-elect Joe Biden will likely take his time before making big moves to unwind the dizzying array of sanctions levied by his predecessor, President Donald Trump.
Airbnb in talks with OFAC regarding potential sanctions violations
Airbnb said in a regulatory filing that it has been in discussions with the Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding user activity on its platform that may be in violation of U.S. sanctions laws.
e-Book: Financial services roadmap: Know your customer
Ready to present your new KYC tech to the regulators?
Berkshire Hathaway fined $4.1M for Iran sanctions violations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control assessed a $4.1 million fine against Berkshire Hathaway for “egregious” violations of sanctions against Iran committed by a subsidiary in Turkey.
e-Book: Government intensifies sanctions enforcement
The United Kingdom has become the second country behind the United States to issue guidance for companies in the maritime shipping industry helping them ferret out suspicious or illicit practices used by those hoping to evade sanctions.
World Bank debars Kalpataru Power Transmission for fraud
The World Bank announced the debarment of India-based Kalpataru Power Transmission for 12 months and one day for fraudulent practices connected to power development projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Egypt.
Travel service company to pay $6M for violating Cuba sanctions
Generali Global Assistance has agreed to pay approximately $5.9 million for violating U.S. sanctions. The action comes a week after OFAC amended its Cuban Assets Control Regulations.
Keysight Technologies to pay $473K for sanctioned dealings in Iran
Keysight Technologies, a successor entity to Anite Finland, has reached a $473,157 settlement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding subsidiary dealings in the sanctioned country of Iran.
Compliance official key to Comtech sanctions penalty
The alleged actions of an export compliance official are at the heart of “egregious” apparent OFAC sanctions violations by New York-based Comtech Telecommunications Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary regarding sales in Sudan.
OFAC-Delaware sanctions pact more than meets the eye
As the state home to nearly 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies, the Delaware Department of Justice’s Memorandum of Understanding with OFAC represents a significant milestone for U.S. sanctions enforcement.
Credit to JPMorgan Chase in this week’s banking-themed naughty/nice list
JPMorgan Chase, Danske Bank, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America all either “Nailed It” or “Failed It” this week.
Deutsche Bank Trust to pay $583K in Ukraine sanctions settlements
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas has reached a pair of settlements with the Office of Foreign Assets Control totaling $583,100 for apparent violations of Ukraine-related sanctions.
White paper: Managing Sanctions Compliance in a Global Economy Part 2
Regardless of industry, companies have ample growth opportunities in today’s global economy—but with that growth comes an increasingly complex landscape of rules, regulations and compliance pitfalls.
Assessing U.K. sanctions in a post-Brexit world
Can the United Kingdom play with the big boys when it comes to issuing its own sanctions, and what do compliance professionals need to know as Brexit’s start date looms closer?
Curtiss-Wright reports possible Russia sanctions violation
A North Carolina manufacturer that traces its origins back to the Wright brothers may have violated sanctions by doing business with two longtime customers purchased by a blacklisted Russian company.
OFAC announces rare sanctions enforcement against individual
The Office of Foreign Assets Control announced a $5,000 settlement with a U.S. person for apparent sanctions violations—a reminder the regulator can pursue enforcement against individuals in addition to companies.
Treasury sanctions 11 individuals for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against 11 individuals for “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly of the citizens of Hong Kong.”
U.K. issues maritime guidance for reducing sanctions risk
The United Kingdom has become just the second country to issue guidance for companies in the maritime shipping industry alerting them about common illicit and suspicious practices used to evade sanctions.
Whitford to pay $824K for sanctioned dealings in Iran
Cookware coating manufacturer Whitford Worldwide has agreed to pay $824,314 as part of a settlement with OFAC regarding subsidiary dealings in the sanctioned country of Iran.
New U.K. regime targets human rights abusers
The United Kingdom issued its first wave of sanctions this month under a new regime targeting those who commit human rights abuses, with the promise of many more sanctions to come.
Cigarette filter maker agrees to first-ever U.S.-North Korea sanctions DPA
A cigarette filter maker has entered into the first-ever U.S.-North Korea DPA with the Justice Department for sanctions violations and agreed to pay a fine of $665,112 to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Amazon pays $135K to settle OFAC screening violations
Amazon will pay approximately $135,000 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding apparent sanctions violations derived from deficient screening processes.
OFAC targets Mexican companies for helping Venezuelan President Maduro evade U.S. sanctions
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has blacklisted a network of Mexican individuals and companies said to be helping Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro evade U.S. sanctions.
White paper: Managing Sanctions Compliance in a Global Economy Part 3
In today’s global economy, opportunities for growth are often accompanied by an increasingly complex landscape of rules, regulations and compliance issues. Since compliance is now a component of everyday business operations, businesses must employ a strategic, holistic program with several key components, including customer risk profiling.
Sanctions guidance: Best practices for maritime, energy, metals sectors
A global advisory to alert the maritime, energy, and metals sectors about common deceptive shipping practices used to evade sanctions includes seven sanctions compliance best practices to mitigate risk.
Development bank bans Brazilian company for paying kickbacks
A Brazilian construction company that paid nearly $50 million in kickbacks has been banned from participating in Inter-American Development Bank-funded projects for more than two years.
Industrial Bank of Korea to pay $86M for sanctions compliance failures
The Industrial Bank of Korea and its New York branch will pay a total of $86 million to resolve charges for systemic sanctions compliance failures that allowed more than $1 billion to be illegally transferred to the government of Iran.
White paper: 2020 Sanctions Compliance Report
What are the biggest obstacles to sanctions compliance? CSI’s 2020 Sanctions Compliance Report examines challenges and provides a resource-maximizing roadmap to help organizations implement an effective sanctions compliance program.
Standard Chartered fined $24.9M for Ukraine sanctions breaches
The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation hit Standard Chartered Bank for a record fine relating to loans the bank made to Russian financial institutions in violation of the EU’s sanction regime.
Swedbank notifies OFAC of potential sanctions violations
Swedbank announced it has reported approximately $4.8 million worth of transactions that might be subject to U.S. sanctions to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Compliance best practices for ever-evolving Iran sanctions
A new executive order issued in January places additional sanctions on a much broader portion of Iran’s economy and, from a compliance and risk management standpoint, puts a broader range of companies in the crosshairs of U.S. enforcement.
Q&A: Clearing up confusion with OFAC’s 50 Percent rule
Compliance Week spoke with Tiffany Archer, regional ethics and compliance officer and corporate counsel at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, on demystifying OFAC’s 50 Percent rule.
e-Book: Regulators get tough on abuses, distribute sanctions
ExxonMobil’s recent victory in a sanctions case could inspire others to fight back against U.S.-imposed sanctions.
Four ways to make sanctions more effective
Sanctions make an impact, but could they be better? Can they be better employed and more effective in achieving their aims?
SITA settles nearly 10K alleged OFAC sanctions violations for $7.8M
Société Internationale de Télécommunications has agreed to pay approximately $7.8 million to settle 9,256 apparent sanctions violations with the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Treasury sanctions Rosneft subsidiary for Venezuelan ties
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned a subsidiary of Russian state-run oil company Rosneft for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy.
DOJ indictment alleges Huawei fraud, trade secrets theft
The Department of Justice unveiled a fresh round of allegations against Chinese tech giant Huawei, including racketeering, theft of trade secrets, and bank fraud.
Study: Post-financial crisis fines against financial institutions hit $36B
Global fines and penalties against financial institutions hit $36 billion last year, as ramifications from the financial crisis continue to reverberate throughout the financial services industry, according to a new report.
Experts weigh in on Brexit consequences for GDPR, AML, more
The wheels to the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union are finally in motion, but the hard work still remains as to what kind of future trading relationship the country has with the single market.
Eagle Shipping settles ‘egregious’ OFAC case for $1.1M
Eagle Shipping International will make a handful of enhancements to its compliance controls as part of a $1.125 million settlement with the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Park Strategies execs draw ire of OFAC in settlement
Park Strategies will pay a relatively tame $12,150 to settle apparent OFAC violations, though the behavior of the lobbying firm’s executives was listed as an aggravating factor in the case.
NAVEX Global: Top 10 compliance trends for 2020
A recent Webinar, and complementary report, from NAVEX Global offers a look at the top 10 risk and compliance trends for 2020.
Will ExxonMobil’s victory in sanctions case mean more pushback?
ExxonMobil’s victory in a sanctions case before a federal court just might empower others in the regulated community to challenge the imposition of fines for alleged violations of sanctions regulations.
OFAC designates new sanctions against Iran’s metals industry
Sanctions compliance officers should be on alert following several new sanctions designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control against Iran’s largest steel, aluminum, copper, and iron manufacturers.
Exxon wins legal battle with OFAC over sanctions violation
A federal judge ruled this week Exxon will not have to pay a $2 million civil penalty levied by OFAC in 2017 for violating Ukraine-related sanctions regulations.
DOJ revises export control and sanctions enforcement policy
The Department of Justice has revised its policy regarding voluntary disclosures of export control and sanctions violations.
WADA mess: Sports regulator’s light touch sends bad compliance message
One of sports’ key enforcement agencies handed out a penalty this week that sent a message no regulator wants to send: Punitive action may only come after the guilty party has already reaped the rewards.
Treasury sanctions 18 individuals connected to human rights abuse
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added 18 individuals across six geographies to its Specially Designated Nationals list for their roles in serious human rights abuse. Six entities have also been added to the list.
Study: Spike in OFAC sanctions pose compliance challenges
Some companies might scramble to comply with more—and sometimes quickly shifting—sanctions requirements as the U.S. government chalks up record enforcement levels.