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Alexandra Baj

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Alex Baj’s practice primarily involves export controls and economic sanctions laws and regulations, anti-corruption investigations and compliance, international trade, and security clearance issues. Alex advises clients on export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), US sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and nuclear export controls under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  Alex specializes in the development and implementation of export and anti-corruption compliance policies and procedures and training, internal investigations and voluntary disclosures under the EAR, the ITAR, and OFAC rules, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, and on encryption and cybersecurity export controls.  Her clients include companies involved in defense, aerospace, software, semiconductor, and uranium processing industries.

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On January 10, 2020, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) named Beijing-based Pamchel Trading Beijing Co. Ltd., its Seychelles-based affiliate, and a Chinese vessel and vessel operator as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13871 of May 8, 2019, for engaging in significant transactions involving Iran’s metals sectors. OFAC also designated 13 Iranian steel and iron manufacturers, an Oman-based supplier, and three Iranian aluminum and copper companies under EO 13871. The announcement signaled an increasingly aggressive posture toward Iran’s metals industry and the foreign firms who engage with it.

Concurrently, the US President issued a new EO (EO 13902) authorizing sanctions on, among others, persons operating in the construction, mining, manufacturing, or textiles sectors of the Iranian economy; persons who knowingly engage “in a significant transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to or from Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with” those sectors; and persons who have “materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of” any person designated as an SDN under the EO or entities owned 50% or more by them. Notably, the EO also authorizes sanctions on correspondent and payable-through-accounts of foreign financial institutions that have “knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant financial transaction” involving activities targeted by the EO.…

Continue Reading UPDATED: OFAC Targets Chinese Firms for Iranian Metals Trade, Designates Iranian Officials, as White House Expands Secondary Sanctions with New Executive Order

On August 8, 2018, the US State Department announced that it would be imposing new sanctions on Russia pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act).  The new sanctions are in response to a determination by the US government that the Russian government was behind the recent use of a nerve agent in the United Kingdom against two UK citizens.  The CBW Act requires the imposition of sanctions following a determination by the President (delegated to the Secretary of State) of the use of chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or in lethal form against one’s own nationals.  Sanctions under the CBW Act, which are expected to take effect on August 22nd, include the termination of foreign assistance, suspension of sales of defense articles or services, denial of credit or other financial assistance by the US government, and a prohibition of exports of national security-sensitive goods and technology.  In a background briefing the State Department announced that it is making “a number of carve-outs” to these sanctions to allow the continuation of certain foreign assistance; exports for space flight activities, safety of commercial passenger aviation, and “purely commercial end users for civilian end uses”; and perhaps other activities.  A Federal Register notice that is to be published by the State Department on August 22 should explain the sanctions and carve-outs in more detail.  According to the State Department, this is the third occasion on which sanctions have been imposed under the CBW Act.  Sanctions under the Act were imposed against Syria in 2013 and against North Korea earlier this year.…
Continue Reading US State Department Announces New Russia Sanctions

On April 16, 2018, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed a denial order involving Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation of Shenzhen, China (ZTE Corporation) and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (ZTE Kangxun).  The denial order, effective immediately, restricts ZTE Corporation and ZTE Kangxun from participating in any way in any transaction involving any hardware, software, or technology that is exported / re-exported or to be exported / re-exported from the United States and is subject to the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  The denial order also restricts any person from engaging, directly or indirectly, in certain EAR-related activities involving ZTE Corporation or ZTE Kangxun. 

Restricted activities include exporting or re-exporting to ZTE Corporation or ZTE Kangxun any hardware, software, or technology subject to the EAR (including US-origin items abroad and foreign-made items with more than 25 percent controlled US content), as well as facilitating acquisition of such items by the ZTE entities, and servicing EAR-controlled items that are owned, possessed or controlled by the ZTE entities. It should be noted that with respect to non-US items that incorporate US content, such US content is “controlled” where a license would be required to export it to the country of destination as indicated by the Commerce Control List and BIS Country Chart.

Restrictions on servicing also include servicing items in ZTE’s possession that are not subject to the EAR if, in providing the service, a person uses an item that is subject to the EAR.  “Service” in this context means installation, maintenance, repair, modification, or testing.  The restrictions in the order last for a period of seven years, until March 13, 2025.  …

Continue Reading ZTE Denial Order Imposed

The Bureau of Industry and Security at the US Department of Commerce has updated the information on its website to incorporate changes made to its encryption export rules in September of 2016.  The new information includes a helpful reference guide for Category 5, Part 2 of the Export Administration Regulations, flowcharts, and guidance on license …

On February 24, 2017, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is publishing in the Federal Register a notice again extending its temporary general license for exports, reexports, and in country transfers to Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corporation (ZTE Corporation) and ZTE Kangxun.  BIS is extending the period of the …

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a General License today authorizing certain transactions with the Russian Federal Security Service (known as “FSB”) related to seeking licenses, notifications, and other authorizations with the FSB for the importation, distribution, or use of information technology products in the Russian Federation.  The General License…

On September 20, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) published a final rule revising the Commerce Control List (CCL) and other sections of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  This rule implements revisions decided at the December 2015 Wassenaar Arrangement plenary meeting, but also includes additional updates to the EAR.  The final rule revises 58 Export…