On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division (“DOJ”) issued a final rule implementing a new regulatory program designed to prevent certain countries (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela) and covered persons from having access to Americans’ bulk sensitive personal data and U.S. government-related data (“Final Rule”).[1] The Final Rule, which implements Executive Order (“E.O.”) 14117 issued on February 28, 2024, builds on an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published March 5, 2024, which we previously discussed here, and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on October 29, 2024.[2] The Final Rule will enter into effect on April 8, 2025. However, certain due diligence, audit, and reporting requirements will not require compliance until October 6, 2025. Continue Reading DOJ Issues Final Rule Targeting Bulk Sensitive Personal and U.S. Government-Related Data Transactions Involving Countries of Concern
US Tightens Controls on US-Origin Components in Goods Exported to Cuba
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a rule, effective immediately, lowering the permissible level of de minimis U.S.-origin content in goods to be exported to Cuba. Items manufactured outside the United States now may have no more than 10% U.S.-origin content (reduced from 25%) if they are to…
Cuba Sanctions Tighten: OFAC Limits Cuba Travel
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) each announced changes to the Cuba sanctions rules. OFAC is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) to end group educational or cultural visits referred to as “people-to-people” educational travel, one of the major categories permitting non-family travel to Cuba. People-to-people educational travel that was previously authorized will be allowed where the traveler has already completed at least one travel-related transaction (such as purchasing a flight or reserving accommodation) prior to June 5, 2019. These amendments follow similar changes to CACR made on November 9, 2017 that removed authorization for individual people-to-people visits to Cuba. OFAC also released an updated set of frequently asked questions regarding Cuba sanctions.
Continue Reading Cuba Sanctions Tighten: OFAC Limits Cuba Travel