Sanctions: US Anti-Boycott actions

OAC Shipping Company Inc (SCI), located in Miami, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of USD6,600 to settle two allegations that it breached the anti-boycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), through its Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC), alleged that during the year 2006, SCI , furnished two certificates regarding the carrying vessel’s blacklist status, in breach of the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. The transactions giving rise to the alleged breaches involved the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from United States to Qatar. Detailed information on this case is available at: http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a705.pdf

Mashreqbank PSC, located in New York City, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of USD12,800 to settle four allegations that it violated the antiboycott provisions of the EAR. OAC alleged that during 2008 and 2009, Mashreqbank PSC furnished four Certificates of Origin certifying that the goods were not of Israeli origin, in breach of the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. The alleged breaches occurred in letter of credit transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Dubai. Mashreqbank PSC voluntarily disclosed the transactions to BIS and cooperated fully with the investigation. Detailed information on this case is available at: http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a706.pdf

MultiCam, Inc. (MultiCam) located in Dallas, TX, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of USD28,800 to settle eight allegations that it breached the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. OAC alleged that from 2005 until the end of 2007, MultiCam furnished four certificates regarding the carrying vessel’s blacklist status, in breach of the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. OAC also alleged MultiCam received four requests to take an action which would have the effect of furthering or supporting a restrictive trade practice or unsanctioned foreign boycott and that MultiCam failed to report to the Department of Commerce its receipts of these requests, as required by the antiboycott provisions of the EAR. The transactions giving rise to the alleged violations involved the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from United States to UAE. Detailed information on this case is available at: http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a707.pdf

Thermon Manufacturing Company (Thermon US), headquartered in San Marcos, Texas, has agreed to pay civil penalties totalling USD32,500 to settle allegations that three subsidiaries breached the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. Thermon US voluntarily disclosed the transactions and cooperated fully in the investigation.

BIS alleged that Thermon Far East Ltd (Japan), during the years 2003 and 2004, in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Libya, on four occasions, furnished a Certificate regarding the carrying vessel’s blacklist status, in breach of the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR. Detailed information on this case is available at: http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a708.pdf

BIS also alleged that Thermon Europe BV (Netherlands), during the years 2003 until the end of 2008, on one occasion, agreed to refuse to do business with another person pursuant to a request from a boycotting country in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Iran, Oman, Syria and UAE; furnished two items of prohibited information that goods were not of Israeli origin and the vessel, not banned entry to Arab States. Further, on four occasions, the company failed to report to the Department of Commerce its receipt of a request to engage in a restrictive trade practice or boycott, as required by the EAR. http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a709.pdf

Lastly, BIS alleged that Thermon (UK) Ltd (UK), during the years 2004 and 2006, in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Iran and UAE, on two occasions, failed to report to the Department of Commerce its receipt of a request to engage in a restrictive trade practice or boycott, as required by the EAR. http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/antiboycott/violations/a710.pdf