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Key takeaways

  • On 12 September 2024 the UK government laid before Parliament the Trade, Aircraft and Shipping Sanctions (Civil Enforcement) Regulations 2024 (the Regulations). They were accompanied by new statutory guidance –
  • In recent years, the sanctions clause has become a “must have” contractual clause. Any company that engages in activity involving high-risk goods or services, or relating to or in connection with high-risk jurisdictions, should incorporate clear and robust sanctions clauses in its contracts. Businesses face complex issues when interpreting and drafting sanctions clauses, requiring an

    On October 15, 2023, OFAC issued General License 44, which temporarily authorized transactions related to oil and gas sector operations, including transactions involving PdVSA.
    Continue Reading OFAC issues wind-down license for Venezuelan oil

    After various delays, on 19 February 2024 the EU Commission issued its FAQ guidance on Article 3q of Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 (as amended). The FAQ document provides some key clarifications sought by the market. However, some uncertainties remain
    Continue Reading EU Clarifies Article 3q for Tanker S&P Market

    On 18 December, the EU announced their 12th round of sanctions targeting Russia. This comes against the backdrop of a flurry of Russia sanctions related activity and a number of designations of third country actors believed to be engaged in price-cap circumvention.
    Continue Reading Christmas comes early for G7 operators – EU adopts 12th package of sanctions against Russia, changes to the Price Cap Model

    After many rumors of potential changes to the U.S. policy on Venezuela, on October 18, 2023 the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued four general licenses, representing a significant shift in its Venezuela sanctions program.  Most pertinent for the shipping industry, certain sanctions that were in place against Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and the Venezuela oil, gas and mining sectors have now largely been relaxed.Continue Reading Shipping briefing: Drill, baby, drill? A new Venezuelan wave for the shipping industry

    The recent English Court of Appeal judgment on Mints & others v PJSC National Bank Trust & PJSC Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation [2023] EWCA Civ 1132 (“Mints”) on 6 October 2023 discussed several fundamental issues pertaining to concepts under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (“SAMLA”) and the secondary sanctions regulations thereunder, in particular the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “Regulations”).
    Continue Reading UK Sanctions – What is “Control”?

    On Saturday (September 30, 2023), new UK and EU trade sanctions tightening the restrictions on the import of Russian-origin iron and steel products will come into effect.

    While certain measures are already in place in relation to a number of listed iron and steel products (Listed Iron and Steel Products) that are of Russian origin

    On 2 August 2023 evening, the EU Commission released new FAQs (here and here; word search “2 August 2023”). Of greatest interest are the two new FAQs in the “Oil Import” section, relating to STS activity relating to Russian oil and petroleum products, in EU territorial waters. We set out extracts of these two below.
    Continue Reading EU FAQs – STS in EU Territorial Waters