Treasury Targets Sanctions Evaders Supporting Key Hizballah Financial Advisor

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated five individuals for helping U.S.-designated Hizballah money exchanger Hassan Moukalled (Moukalled) and his company, CTEX Exchange, evade sanctions and facilitate illicit activities in support of Hizballah. These individuals, including two co-founders of CTEX Exchange and two of Moukalled’s sons, operate two companies in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that are being concurrently designated. Individuals and entities targeted today are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups, their supporters, and those who aid acts of terrorism.

“Hizballah continues to rely on seemingly legitimate business investments and key facilitators to generate revenue for the group’s operations, including its destabilizing attacks across Israel’s northern border,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “The United States remains focused on relentlessly pursuing Hizballah’s key revenue sources and constraining its ability to further destabilize the region.” 

This action builds on OFAC’s January 24, 2023 designations of Moukalled, his companies CTEX Exchange, Lebanese Company for Information and Studies SARL (LCIS), and Lebanese Company for Publishing, Media, and Research, as well as Rayyan Hassan Moukalled (Rayyan Moukalled) and Rani Hassan Moukalled (Rani Moukalled) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. The UAE added the same three individuals and CTEX Exchange to their Local Terrorist List in February 2023.

Moukalled continues to serve as a financial advisor to Hizballah and works closely with senior Hizballah finance officials, including U.S.-designated Muhammad Qasir, to represent Hizballah’s business interests throughout the Middle East. Moukalled, jointly with Hizballah senior officials Muhammad Qasir and Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal, established CTEX Exchange as a financial facilitation front company for Hizballah. OFAC designated Muhammad Qasir and Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal pursuant to E.O. 13224 for acting for or on behalf of Hizballah on May 15, 2018 and November 20, 2018, respectively. 

HIZBALLAH ADVISOR MOUKALLED’S SANCTIONS EVASION NETWORK

Adnan Mahmoud Youssef (Youssef) is an employee of CTEX Exchange and has, as of mid-2023, sought investors to set up companies in the UAE on behalf of Moukalled in circumvention of the sanctions imposed on Moukalled in early 2023 by the government of the UAE. Youssef has been involved in business dealings, including discussions of proposals and profitability, with Rayyan Moukalled and Rani Moukalled. Additionally, Youssef has engaged in business transactions with and received over a million dollars from U.S.-designated Hizballah financier Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi

Mazen Hassan al-Zein (al-Zein) is a UAE-based business consultant for Moukalled. As recently as mid-2023, al-Zein has been a business partner with Moukalled and Youssef on various projects in the UAE. Al-Zein also had management role in a parent company that would administer a number of businesses the three men planned to establish in the UAE on Moukalled’s behalf following Moukalled’s designation. Moukalled appointed al-Zein as his representative to coordinate with Moukalled’s associates on his behalf, particularly on business deals with potential investors to secure millions of dollars’ worth of funds. 

Al-Zein is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of The Crystal Group, a Lebanon and UAE-based hospitality company.

Youssef and al-Zein are being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Moukalled, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. The Crystal Group is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, al-Zein, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

Andriyah Samir Mushantaf (Mushantaf) and Bashir Ibrahim Mansur (Mansur), jointly with Moukallad, contributed capital towards founding CTEX Exchange. Mushantaf and Mansur continue to be minority shareholders in CTEX Exchange alongside Moukalled.

Mushantaf and Mansur are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, CTEX Exchange, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

Moukalled often involves his family members in illicit activities for Hizballah, including his previously designated children, Rayyan and Rani. Firas Hasan Moukalled (Firas), Moukalled’s son, is also involved in Moukalled’s business dealings through U.S.-designated LCIS, where Firas works. Lebanon-based Teleport Company SAL (Teleport) is jointly owned and operated by Mushantaf and two of Moukalled’s sons, Firas and Rayyan.

Firas is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Moukalled, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Teleport is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mushantaf, Firas, and Rayyan, persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. 

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with persons designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Individuals and entities being designated today are also subject to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which implements the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, as amended by the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018. Pursuant to these authorities, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, or, among other things, knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for Hizballah or certain persons designated for their connection to Hizballah.

In addition, non-U.S. financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions risk or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. 

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Treasury remains committed to enabling the flow of legitimate humanitarian assistance supporting the basic human needs of vulnerable populations, while continuing to deny resources to malicious actors. Accordingly, OFAC sanctions programs contain provisions for legitimate humanitarian support to vulnerable populations, including authorizations for certain humanitarian transactions in support of nongovernmental organizations’ activities. For more information, please review relevant authorizations and guidance on OFAC’s website

Click here to view identifying information on the individuals and entities designated today.

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U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Outline Accomplishments in First Year of Implementation of Plan to Improve Taxpayer Service, Modernize Technology, Increase High-End Enforcement

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) outlined the accomplishments achieved in the first year of implementation of the Strategic Operating Plan, a comprehensive roadmap to transform the IRS using Inflation Reduction Act resources.  

The Strategic Operating Plan shows how the IRS is using Inflation Reduction Act resources to work for the American people—providing world-class customer service, modernizing technology, and reducing the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars by strengthening enforcement among high-income and high-wealth individuals, complex partnerships, and large corporations.  

“Thanks to resources from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has made major progress in the first year of implementation of its plan to ensure the agency is delivering for American taxpayers,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “The IRS has improved customer service, modernized technology, and worked to ensure wealthy individuals, complex partnerships, and large corporations pay taxes owed.” 

Significantly Improved Customer Service 

  • During the 2024 Filing Season, the IRS answered more than 1 million more calls than the 2023 Filing Season, while maintaining an average wait time of just over three minutes.
  • The new callback option made available for the 2024 Filing Season saved taxpayers an estimated 1.5 million hours of sitting on hold. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers served more than 780,000 taxpayers in person, an increase of more than 37 percent compared to 2023. 
  • The IRS launch the Simple Notice Initiative to review, redesign, and deploy hundreds of notices so taxpayers better understand the actions they need to take, with an immediate focus on the most common notices that individual taxpayers receive. Thirty-one notices were deployed for the 2024 Filing Season.

 Modernized Technology  

  • The IRS enhanced many online tools, such as Where’s My Refund, Individual and Tax Pro Online Accounts, while also launching new online tools including the Business Tax Account for individual partners of partnerships, individual shareholders of S corporations and sole proprietors with an employer identification number (EIN). 
  • The IRS in August 2023 launched the Paperless Processing Initiative, which allowed taxpayers to go paperless by the 2024 Filing Season and e-File more than a dozen additional forms. 
  • The IRS launched the Direct File Pilot Program to allow eligible taxpayers in 12 states with simple returns to file for free, directly with the IRS. The IRS exceeded its goal for the pilot program, with more than 140,000 taxpayers submitting accepted returns. 

Strengthened Enforcement Against Complex Partnerships, Large Corporations and Wealthy Individuals 

  • The IRS is using IRA resources to strengthen enforcement and pursue complex partnerships, large corporations, and wealthy individuals. The IRS has launched new initiatives in each of these areas, with significant success so far. The IRS has launched new initiatives to crack down on abuse of corporate jets for personal travel and 125,000 wealthy individuals who have not filed tax returns for years.
  • The IRS has pursued wealthy individuals who have not paid tax debts, collecting $520 million in back taxes from around 1,000 delinquent millionaires and billionaires. 

Using artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics to help select complex partnerships for audits, IRS has launched audits of 76 of the largest partnerships, with average assets of $10 billion that represent a cross section of industries including hedge funds, real estate investment partnerships, publicly traded partnerships, large law firms and other industries. The IRS is also launching audits of the 60 largest corporate taxpayers, with average assets of $24 billion. 

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Acting Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel Testifies on Bank Mergers

WASHINGTON—Acting Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel Ted Dowd today testified on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) review and consideration of bank merger applications before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, Committee on Financial Services of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In his testimony, Mr. Dowd discussed the OCC’s consideration of bank merger applications under applicable laws and regulations; its commitment to improve the bank merger application process to promote a diverse and competitive banking system; and its efforts to provide transparency around its decision-making.

Related Links

Minutes of the Meeting of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee April 30, 2024

The Committee convened in a closed session at the Department of the Treasury at 9:00 a.m.  All members were present.  Jason Williams from Citigroup was also present to assist the Committee Chair. Under Secretary for Domestic Finance Nellie Liang, Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk, Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets Josh Frost, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Federal Finance Brian Smith, Director of the Office of Debt Management Fred Pietrangeli, and Deputy Director of the Office of Debt Management Tom Katzenbach welcomed the Committee. Other members of Treasury staff present were Dini Ajmani, Sally Au-Yeung, Shantanu Banerjee, Burcu Duygan Bump, Chris Cameron, Nicholas Chisholm, Dave Chung, Gabriella Csepe, Jeff Rapp, Renee Tang, Thomas Teles, and Laura Thrift.  Federal Reserve Bank of New York staff members Ellen Correia Golay, Luis Gonzalez, and Kyle Watson were also present. 

Under Secretary Liang opened the meeting by thanking outgoing Vice Chair Colin Teichholtz for his service to the committee.  Under Secretary Liang then provided a brief update on debt management and other Treasury priorities. 

Director Pietrangeli reviewed year-over-year changes in receipts and outlays through Q2 FY2024.  Receipts totaled $1.1 trillion during the first six months of FY2024, an increase of $140 billion (7%) compared to the same period last year.  This increase was primarily due to several major tax deadline extensions for some taxpayers, including those in California, from FY2023 into FY2024.  Outlays totaled $1.6 trillion through Q2 FY2024, an increase of $103 billion (3%) compared to the same period last year, which was largely attributable to higher gross interest on the public debt as well as cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security and other transfer payments.

Pietrangeli then turned to privately-held net marketable borrowing projections.  Primary dealer estimates for the next three fiscal years were slightly lower than previous estimates, with the median cumulative estimate for FY2024-FY2026 approximately $178 billion lower than last quarter.  Dealers noted that their level of confidence around these estimates, particularly in FY2025 and FY2026, was low, citing uncertainty around the path of monetary policy, the duration of System Open Market Account (SOMA) redemptions, and the economic outlook.

Deputy Director Katzenbach reviewed primary dealers’ expectations for coupon issuance.  All primary dealers expected nominal coupon issuance to remain unchanged at the May refunding.  In addition, dealers generally projected that nominal coupon auction sizes would remain unchanged through calendar year-end, but that modest increases might be needed sometime in mid-2025 or 2026.  The timing of any forthcoming change to auction sizes was perceived to be uncertain, as it would depend upon the evolving outlook for the economy, the pace and duration of SOMA balance sheet reduction, and whether any provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act were extended past their scheduled expiry.  With respect to Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), all dealers expected Treasury to increase the size of the 5-year TIPS reopening in June 2024 and most expected Treasury to increase the 10-year TIPS new issue in July.  

Debt Manager Banerjee summarized primary dealers’ views on the size and composition of the SOMA portfolio over the next 12-24 months given the implications for Treasury issuance.  With respect to SOMA redemptions, many dealers expected the Federal Reserve would announce a reduction to the pace of tapering at the May 2024 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.  As to timing, dealers’ modal expectation was that the pace of redemptions would be tapered beginning in June 2024 and that the overall size of the SOMA portfolio would stabilize by the second quarter of 2025.  With respect to composition, most dealers expected the Federal Reserve to reduce the caps on Treasury redemptions by half while nearly all dealers expected mortgage-backed security (MBS) caps to remain unchanged.  Most dealers also expressed the view that, in the medium- to longer-term, there is potential for a compositional shift in the maturity of SOMA reinvestments: as MBS holdings continue to roll off the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet, secondary market purchases of Treasuries might skew towards shorter-dated securities.

Debt Manager Chisholm then reviewed primary dealers’ views on the small-value buyback operations conducted by Treasury in April 2024.  Dealers noted no issues participating in the operations, attributing this to their familiarity with the FedTrade platform and expressing no concerns about the Wednesday afternoon time slot.  Dealers suggested that Treasury provide additional transparency regarding the criteria for including securities in each operation while also remaining flexible and price-sensitive when conducting buyback operations.

Chisholm then reviewed Treasury’s latest operational design parameters of the regular buyback program.  Treasury will conduct liquidity support and cash management buybacks in 9 buckets based on seven maturity sectors across the curve for nominal coupon securities and two for TIPS.  Chisholm noted that Treasury will announce a tentative schedule for the subsequent quarter at each quarterly refunding, that liquidity support buybacks will generally take place once per week, and that operations will initially be open only to primary dealers.  Chisholm highlighted that unlike auctions, pro-rata participation in Treasury buybacks is not part of the expectations for primary dealers.  Chisholm noted that initially, Treasury will seek offers for at most 20 CUSIPs in each operation due to temporary settlement reporting process limitations that are being addressed and that Treasury would provide an update both on operation sizes and the 20 CUSIP limit at the August 2024 refunding.

The Committee then discussed the potential for a 6-week benchmark.  The presenting member began by reviewing factors Treasury should take into consideration when making its determination and surveyed the sources of investor demand for the tenor, particularly that of money market funds.  The presenting member highlighted the projected growth in bill issuance over the longer term, strong demand for the tenor during the time Treasury has issued it as a cash management bill, and the complementary nature of the 6-week bill issuance and maturity pattern to the existing suite of Treasury bills. The Committee concluded by recommending Treasury move the 6-week tenor to benchmark status. 

The Committee then turned to a presentation on potential new Treasury products that may help Treasury achieve its objectives such as minimizing borrowing costs or expanding its investor base. The presenting members surveyed a variety of potential products ranging from previously issued instruments like callable bonds, novel products never issued by the U.S. Treasury before like green bonds, and variations of existing instruments. The Committee began the discussion on these potential products before adjourning for lunch. 

The Committee adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

The Committee reconvened at 1:10 p.m. 

Upon reconvening the presenting members finished discussing new potential products and then also reviewed potential new operational processes to better achieve Treasury’s objectives – such as diversifying settlement days or times, reopening operations, introducing a securities lending facility, or publishing “league tables.”  The presenting members recommended Treasury could consider further study of several new products and processes.  It was emphasized that any of these potential ideas would require additional review and analysis before the Committee would be prepared to make a recommendation.

The Committee then discussed its financing recommendation for the upcoming quarters and advised that Treasury maintain nominal coupon and floating rate note auction sizes at current levels. Finally, the Committee recommended gradual increases to TIPS auction sizes. 

The Committee adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

The Committee reconvened at 5:00 p.m.

Finally, the Chair summarized key elements of the Committee report for Secretary Yellen and followed with a brief discussion of recent market developments.

The Committee adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

_________________________________

Brian Smith

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Federal Finance

United States Department of the Treasury

April 30, 2024

Certified by:

_________________________________

Deirdre Dunn, Chair

Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee

April 30, 2024

 

 

Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting

Committee Charge – April 30, 2024

Fiscal Outlook

Taking into consideration Treasury’s short, intermediate, and long-term financing requirements, as well as the variability in financing needs from quarter to quarter, what changes, if any, do you recommend to Treasury issuance?  Please also provide perspectives regarding market expectations for Treasury issuance, the effects of changes in SOMA holdings, the evolution of Treasury holdings by different types of investors, as well as auction calendar construction.

6-Week Benchmark 

Treasury has regularly been issuing the 6-week cash management bill since June 2023 and last refunding stated it would announce a decision on whether to change the 6-week to benchmark status at an upcoming refunding.  Based on your recommendations for the appropriate level of bills outstanding in the medium to long term, should Treasury change the 6-week to benchmark status?  What factors should Treasury consider before making a decision on the 6-week?

New Products and Processes

Treasury is always considering ways to minimize borrowing costs, better manage its liability profile, enhance market liquidity, and expand the investor base in Treasury securities.  In light of these objectives, we would like the Committee to comment on the likely costs and benefits of potential new Treasury products that might assist Treasury in achieving some or all of these objectives.  In addition, are there any other debt management tools or processes that Treasury should consider utilizing?  In answering the question, please review the practices and products employed by debt management authorities around the world.

Financing this Quarter

We would like the Committee’s advice on the following:

  • The composition of Treasury notes and bonds to refund approximately $107.8 billion of privately-held notes maturing on May 15, 2024.
  • The composition of Treasury marketable financing for the remainder of the April-June 2024 quarter
  • The composition of Treasury marketable financing for the July-September 2024 quarter.

 

U.S. Continues to Degrade Russia’s Military-Industrial Base and Target Third-Country Support with Nearly 300 New Sanctions

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury is taking action to further degrade Russia’s ability to sustain its war machine, continuing a multilateral campaign to limit the Kremlin’s revenue and access to the materiel it needs to prosecute its illegal war against Ukraine. Today’s actions target Russia’s military-industrial base and chemical and biological weapons programs as well as companies and individuals in third countries that help Russia acquire key inputs for weapons or defense-related production.

The United States, along with many international partners, is particularly concerned about entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other third countries that provide critical inputs to Russia’s military-industrial base. This support enables Russia to continue its war against Ukraine and poses a significant threat to international security. The almost 300 targets being sanctioned by both Treasury and the Department of State include sanctions on dozens of actors that have enabled Russia to acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad. 

“Treasury has consistently warned that companies will face significant consequences for providing material support for Russia’s war, and the U.S. is imposing them today on almost 300 targets,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Today’s actions will further disrupt and degrade Russia’s war efforts by going after its military industrial base and the evasion networks that help supply it. Even as we’re throwing sand in the gears of Russia’s war machine, President Biden’s recently-passed National Security Supplemental is providing badly-needed military, economic, and humanitarian support to bolster Ukraine’s courageous resistance. Combined, our support for Ukraine and our relentless targeting of Russia’s military capacity is giving Ukraine a critical leg-up on the battlefield.”

In addition to the nearly 200 targets sanctioned by the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on over 80 entities and individuals that are engaged in sanctions evasion and circumvention or are related to Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs and defense industrial base. The Department of State is also targeting Russia’s revenue generation through its future energy, metals, and mining production and sanctioning additional individuals in connection with the death of opposition leader and anticorruption activist Aleksey Navalny. For more information on State actions, see the Department of State Fact Sheet.

The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a forfeiture complaint today against a set of aircraft landing gear for a Boeing 737-800 that was detained in September 2023 at Miami International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The gear was purchased for $1.55 million for the benefit of a Kyrgyz Republic-based transhipper of dual-use items servicing the Russian Federation, in violation of U.S. sanctions on LLC RM Design and Development, which was designated by OFAC in July 2022. 

SANCTIONS EVASION, CIRCUMVENTION, AND BACKFILL

Treasury is committed to disrupting individuals and entities who help facilitate Russia’s acquisition of technology and equipment for its war machine. Treasury and other U.S. government partners have issued extensive guidance and conducted outreach around the world to educate and inform about the risks of doing business with Russia, and Treasury will continue to take unilateral action when necessary to disrupt Russia’s military-industrial supply chains, no matter where they are located. Today’s action includes nearly 60 targets located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, the PRC, Russia, Slovakia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that enable Russia to acquire desperately-needed technology and equipment from abroad. 

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 1

RUSSIA’S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL BASE 

Russia’s military-industrial base relies on a vast ecosystem of entities that enable and support the production, maintenance, transportation, and sustainment of materiel used by Russia’s military. Today’s action takes aim at more than 100 entities operating or that have operated in the technology, defense and related materiel, manufacturing, or transportation sectors of the Russian Federation economy. 

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 2.

Foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions, or provide any service, involving Russia’s military-industrial base—including any person designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology, defense and related materiel, construction, aerospace, or manufacturing sectors of the Russian Federation economy—run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC. Russia’s military-industrial base may also include individuals and entities that support the sale, supply, or transfer of certain items or classes of items. OFAC has issued Guidance for Foreign Financial Institutions on OFAC Sanctions Authorities Targeting Support to Russia’s Military-Industrial Base.

RUSSIA’S ACQUISITION OF EXPLOSIVES PRECURSORS

Russia relies on external suppliers for cotton cellulose and its highly flammable byproduct, nitrocellulose, which are key explosives precursors that Russia needs to keep producing gunpowder, rocket propellants, and other explosives. Today’s action targets major Russian importers of cotton cellulose, nitrocellulose, and key inputs to nitrocellulose such as cotton pulp, as well as two PRC-based suppliers sending these substances to Russia. 

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 3.

RUSSIA’S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM PROCUREMENT

Treasury is also targeting three Russia-based entities and two individuals involved in procuring items for military institutes involved in Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs. In coordination, the Department of State is separately designating three Russian government entities associated with Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs and four Russian companies contributing to such entities. These actions are being taken concurrent with the Department of State’s imposition of Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act) sanctions on Russia over its use of the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 4.

EXPANSION OF RUSSIA’S NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE

Guided by commitments made in February by President Biden and G7 leaders to take steps to limit Russia’s future energy revenues and impede Russia’s development of future energy projects, today Treasury is targeting two Russia-based entities involved in natural gas-related construction projects, Neftegazstroy and Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Vnipigazdobycha. These entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

ANNEX 1: SANCTIONS EVASION, CIRCUMVENTION, AND BACKFILL

Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Procurement Network

Tulun International Holding Limited (Tulun International) is a Hong Kong-based procurement intermediary that represented itself as the end-user of, but ultimately resold, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) boards that were installed in Russian one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by Russian military forces to attack Ukrainian targets, and shortly thereafter recovered in October and November 2023.

Russia-based Limited Liability Company Ultran Electronic Components (Ultran EK) procures microelectronics, including items that have been recovered from Orlan-10 UAVs used against Ukrainian forces. Ultran EK imported 71 shipments of electronic integrated circuits into Russia between June 8, 2022 and September 26, 2023, including electronic integrated circuits with UAV applications such as field programmable gate arrays.

After Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ultran EK began to rely on Hong Kong-based RG Solutions Limited (RG Solutions) for microelectronics. RG Solutions exported 104 shipments of electronic integrated circuits between January 1, 2023 and December 25, 2023, including electronic integrated circuits with UAV applications such as field programmable gate arrays. RG Solutions engaged in wire transfer activity that indicated the trading of electronic components with military applications to Russia. RG Solutions engaged in payments referencing invoices, transport services, microcircuits, compressor spare parts, freight, and contracts.

Hong Kong-based Finder Technology Limited (Finder Technology) exported 293 shipments of electronic integrated circuits between January 3, 2023 and December 29, 2023, including electronic integrated circuits with UAV applications such as field programmable gate arrays. Finder Technology acted as an intermediary for Russia-based Joint Stock Company Compel (Compel) and exported microelectronics to Compel, prior to and following its July 20, 2023 designation by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

PRC-based Juhang Aviation Technology Shenzhen Co, Ltd. (Juhang Aviation) exported 94 shipments of export-controlled items with UAV and other military applications, including items in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 4 of the Department of Commerce Common High Priority List, to Russia-based TSK Vektor OOO (TSK Vektor) between August 5, 2022 and December 31, 2023. Items exported to TSK Vektor by Juhang Aviation included items for UAV production such as propellers, signal jammers, sensors, and UAV engines. TSK Vektor was designated by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 on December 12, 2023, for providing material support to IEMZ Kupol, which produces one-way attack UAVs for the Russian Ministry of Defense and was designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 on December 12, 2023 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Juhang Aviation has also exported dual-use items with UAV and other military applications, such as integrated circuits, to LLC Testkomplekt. LLC Testkomplekt was designated by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 on May 19, 2023 for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Tulun International, Ultran EK, RG Solutions, Finder Technology, and Juhang Aviation were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Radioavtomatika Procurement Network

The Treasury Department is also designating individuals and entities that are part of the procurement network of Russian defense procurement firm Radioavtomatika LLC (Radioavtomatika) and its front company, Novastream Limited (Novastream), to acquire foreign electronic components that are critical to Russia’s war effort. Radioavtomatika was designated by the Department of State pursuant to E.O. 14024 on March 3, 2022 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Since Radioavtomatika’s designation, it has sought to leverage a broad network of intermediaries to acquire foreign electronic components critical to Russia’s war effort, including through close coordination with its front company, Novastream. Novastream was designated by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 on September 30, 2022 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Radioavtomatika. 

Ivan Vladimirovich Seliverstov (Seliverstov) is a Russian businessman who has conducted business with sanctioned companies such as Radioavtomatika. Seliverstov has used his two Russia-based companies, Militechtrade Limited Liability Company (Militechtrade) and Joint Stock Company Militech (JSC Militech) to procure imported microelectronics on behalf of Radioavtomatika.

In support of Radioavtomatika, Seliverstov has collaborated with other Russian defense procurement companies, including Alfa Limited Liability Company (Alfa LLC).

Seliverstov and Alfa LLC were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Radioavtomatika. Militechtrade and JSC Militech were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Seliverstov.

Yegor Igoryevich Mozhayev (Mozhayev) is a Russian national who is employed by Radioavtomatika. Mozhayev handles Radioavtomatika’s relationships with multiple suppliers and intermediaries, as well as oversees the company’s efforts to acquire advanced electronic components through its global procurement network. Mozhayev is also the owner and general director of Russia-based company Leda Limited Liability Company (Leda).

Mozhayev was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Radioavtomatika. Leda was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mozhayev.

Aksioma Limited Liability Company (Aksioma) is a Moscow, Russia-based company founded in May 2017. Aksioma has conducted numerous transactions directly with Radioavtomatika and through Novastream related to the supply of electronic components.

Global Key Limited Liability Company (Global Key) is a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company founded in February 2022. Radioavtomatika has relied on Global Key to fulfill multiple Russian defense contracts.

Bimlogic Limited Liability Company (Bimlogic) is a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company founded in April 2022. Bimlogic has purchased thousands of dollars’ worth of U.S.-origin components on behalf of Novastream and has assisted Novastream officials to hide Radioavtomatika’s involvement in weapons-related transactions.

Aksioma and Global Key were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Radioavtomatika. Bimlogic was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Novastream.

PRC and Hong Kong-based technology suppliers

The following PRC-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

  • Wuhan Global Sensor Technology Co., Ltd., has provided infrared detectors and other components to Russian companies. Among the companies supplied by Global Sensor Technology was a Russian manufacturer of military optics.
  • Wuhan Tongsheng Technology Co., Ltd. has made numerous shipments of high-priority technology to Russia and, in October 2023, attended a state security technology exposition in Moscow that was hosted with the support of the Russian Ministry of Defense. 
  • HK Hengbangwei Electronics Limited and Chip Space Electronics Co., Limited are Hong Kong-based companies that have each made hundreds of shipments of foreign-origin microelectronics to Russia, including to U.S.-designated Russian technology company Uniservice Limited Liability Company (Uniservice). 
  • IPM Limited (IPM) is based in Hong Kong and has shipped hundreds of shipments of foreign-origin microelectronics to U.S.-designated Russian technology company Uniservice, as well as a shipment of machine tool components to Russia. The director of IPM is Austria-based Russian national Sergei Vyacheslavovich Makarov, who is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of IPM. 
  • Chengdu Keylink Wireless Technology Co., Ltd is based in the PRC and has shipped communications equipment to Russian companies, including U.S.-designated Limited Liability Company SMT-iLOGIC (SMT-iLOGIC) and Uniservice. SMT-iLOGIC is involved in a large-scale procurement network to obtain foreign-origin technology used to manufacture Orlan drones for the Russian military.
  • Hong Kong-based Jinmingsheng Technology HK Co Limited has supplied noise-suppressing filters, pressure sensors, and microcontrollers found in Russian missile systems and UAVs to U.S.-designated electronic components supplier LLC Onelek.

PRC Companies Providing Support to Russian Defense Entities

  • Zhongcheng Heavy Equipment Defense Technology (Shandong) Group Co., Ltd (ZHE) ZHE is a PRC-based defense company that produces and sells weapons, ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other defense equipment. ZHE was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods in services to or in support of PMC Wagner, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.
  • Shvabe Opto-Electronics Co., Ltd (Shvabe Opto) has made thousands of shipments to its parent company, U.S.-sanctioned Joint Stock Company Production Association Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant Named After E.S. Yalamov (JSC PA UOMP), including hundreds of shipments of foreign-origin microelectronics. JSC PA UOMP is a Russian defense entity that develops instruments for Russia’s combat aircraft, helicopters, and naval ships. Shvabe Opto was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, JSC PA UOMP, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. Shvabe Opto was previously added to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List on October 11, 2023.

Belgium- and Türkiye-based Machine Tool Procurement Networks

Russia-based Sonatec Limited Liability Company (Sonatec) is a developer and supplier of manufacturing solutions and of metalworking equipment and high-precision machine tools that has working relationships with over a dozen Russian defense companies. Belgium-based mechanical products and machine tool supplier Groupe D’Investissement Financier SA (GIF) has delivered machinery and equipment to Sonatec. Sonatec’s general director and owner, Ruslan Viktorovich Labin (Ruslan), is the son of Belgium-based GIF owner Viktor Gennadievich Labin (Viktor), an alleged officer of Russia’s U.S.-sanctioned Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). Along with his other son, Roman Viktorovich Labin (Roman), who also individually procures machine tools for Sonatec, Viktor has used Türkiye-based GIF Groupe Dinvestissement Financi Osborne Dis Tic Ltd Sti (GIF Osborne) to send machine tools, polymers, and industrial chemical products to Sonatec.

Sonatec, GIF, Ruslan, Viktor, and Roman were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. GIF Osborne was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sonatec.

Türkiye-based Etasis Elektronik Tarti Aletleri Ve Sistemleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Etasis) purchases British machine tool equipment and resells it to companies in Russia. Russia-based Vektor Etalon (Vektor) is a Russia-based manufacturing company involved in the repair of machinery and the wholesale of instruments and equipment. Algoritm Tochnosti (Algoritm) is a Russia-based company involved in the wholesale of machine tools as well as the supply and maintenance of equipment. Both Vektor and Algoritm have supplied goods that were ultimately destined for Russian defense-related enterprises. Etasis has made dozens of shipments of machine-related goods to Russia, including to Vektor and U.S.-designated Promoil Limited Liability Company, which supplies goods to Russian defense companies. Etasis, Vektor, and Algoritm were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Hong Kong-, Slovakia-, and UAE-based Electronics Procurement Networks

Russia-based Compliga is a supplier of IT products and equipment and electronics. Compliga has imported at least $180 million worth of electronics from abroad since April 1, 2022, almost exclusively from Hong Kong-based Pixel Devices Limited (Pixel). Pixel, whose primary client is Compliga, has shipped at least $210 million in electronics to Russia since April 1, 2022. Slovakia-based Carovilli Trading SRO (Carovilli) purchases computer equipment and software and resells it to companies in Russia. Over the course of just a few months in 2023, Carovilli sent over 350 shipments of electronics, including electronic modules, printed circuits, and microprocessors, to Compliga. 

Compliga, Pixel, and Carovilli were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Russia-based defense contractor Limited Liability Company Spring Elektroniks (Spring Elektroniks) manufactures integrated electronic circuits and other electronic components and fills orders for, among others, U.S.-sanctioned Russian military-industrial firms Radiotekhkomplekt, which supplies electronic components to Russian research institutes and design bureaus, and KBP Instrument Design Bureau, which creates precision-guided weapons, antitank missile systems, tank weapons systems, guided artillery, and air defense systems. UAE-based Albait Al Khaleeje General Trading LLC (Albait), which advertises itself as an auto spare parts wholesale exporter, organizes the import and transit of so-called “sanctioned goods” to Russia through the UAE. Albait has been involved in more than 6,800 shipments to Russian customers, including more than 450 to Spring Elektroniks. Albait has primarily sent Spring Elektroniks soldering and welding machines that are critical to electronics production.

Spring Elektroniks was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. Albait was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Kamaz Supply Chain

On June 28, 2022, OFAC designated KAMAZ Publicly Traded Company (KAMAZ), Russia’s largest truck manufacturer, one of the world’s top 20 heavy duty truck producers, and a supplier of armored vehicles to Russia’s military. Today, OFAC is targeting several entities that have continued to help KAMAZ acquire goods and equipment. 

The following entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Russia-Based So-Called “Sanctioned Goods” Procurement Agents

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy. All of these companies openly boast of their services to help Russia-based end-users acquire so-called “sanctioned goods.”

  • Artmarine LLC is a freight forwarding and logistics company offering options to import so-called “sanctioned goods” into Russia.
  • Importeks has developed a service for the delivery of so-called “sanctioned goods” to Russia, handling transportation and customs clearance services.
  • Limited Liability Company Eurotransexpedition is a forwarding company that offers the import of so-called “sanctioned goods.”
  • OOO PV Bridzh (PVB) offers services including the delivery of so-called “sanctioned goods.” PVB also offers cargo transportation services to evade sanctions, such as through payment swaps from rubles to euros and alternative routes to Russia through third countries. 
  • OOO Standard Lineoffers the import, export, and reexport of goods to or from Russia through Kazakhstan to circumvent sanctions.
  • OOO Orlan is a logistics operator and international forwarder that has developed a service for the purchase and transportation of so-called “sanctioned goods.” 

Petrov Procurement Network

Evgenii Stanislavich Petrov (Petrov) is the General Director of U.S.-designated TK Logimeks, a Russia-based cargo shipping company. Petrov has acted as a covert procurement intermediary and has worked to obtain export-controlled foreign-made products on behalf of Russian-end-users. Natallia Butrym (Butrym) is an employee of TK Logimeks who has been involved in facilitating the shipments of goods to Russian end-users. Gonul Export Lojistik Ticaret Ve Sanayi Limited Sirketi (Gonul Export) has sent tool-mounting equipment for lateral machines and appliances for fixing items for turning machines to Russia. Petrov and Butrym have used Gonul Export to procure equipment for Russian end-users. MSO Lojistik Tic Ve Sanayi Ltd Sti (MSO Lojistik) is owned by Petrov, who has used the company for his procurement activity. 

Petrov and Butrym were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy. Gonul Export was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. MSO Lojistik was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Petrov, a person whose property and interest in property are concurrently proposed to be blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. 

Aliyev Procurement Network

Yevgeni Aliyev is a procurement agent coordinating a network of intermediaries that places orders on behalf of Russian end-users with close ties to the Russian miliary. Aliyev’s procurement network includes Lahic Energy Mahdud Masuliyyatli Camiyyati (Lahic Energy), GMM FZE, and GMM Management DMCC (GMM Management). Lahic Energy is an Azerbaijan-based entity that has sought to conduct business on behalf of U.S.-sanctioned Russian technology producers in 2023. GMM FZE and GMM Management are UAE-based entities that sought to conduct business on behalf of U.S. sanctioned Russian technology producers in 2023. Jahangir Yevgenyevich Aliyev (Jahangir Aliyev) is the director of Lahic Energy and is the son of Yevgeni Aliyev. 

Yevgeni Aliyev was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Lahic Energy, GMM FZE, GMM Management, and Jahangir Aliyev were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Türkiye-based Electronics Supplier 

Alpha Impex Ithalat Ve Ihracat Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Alpha Impex) sent over two million dollars’ worth of shipments to Russia-based end-users at the end of 2023, including microcircuits, programable logic devices, and transistors. Alpha Impex has been used by U.S.-designated JSC Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems (Reshetnev) to procure U.S.-made equipment for use in sensitive military satellites. Reshetnev has described its satellites and their associated systems as vital to Russia’s defense capabilities and has supported Russian government space systems that the Russian military uses to perpetrate its war against Ukraine.

Alpha Impex was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Leadership of Russia-Based Sanctioned Entities

U.S.-designated Public Joint Stock Company Kremny has supplied Russian military customers with microelectronics and has worked with U.S.-designated companies Elfor TL and Fotoniks Klaud. Yurii Anatolyevich Korzhavin (Korzhavin) is a shareholder of Elfor TL. Lidiya Germanovna Korzhavina (Korzhavina) is a shareholder of Elfor TL. OFAC designated Elfor TL’s general director Mikhail Chepurnoi in February 2024. Anzhelika Anatolyevna Litvyakova (Litvyakova) is the General Director and owner of Fotoniks Klaud

Korzhavin and Korzhavina were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy. Litvyakova was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

ANNEX 2: RUSSIA’S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL BASE AND OTHER SECTORS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ECONOMY

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Tsentralnoe Konstruktorskoe Byuro Apparatostroeniya (TSKBA) develops and produces armament and military equipment training devices for the Russian Ministry of Defense. TSKBA also creates radar control systems for precision weapons.
  • Complex Unmanned Solutions Center LTD works with the Russian Ministry of Defense on the development of combat first-person view (FPV) systems.
  • Institute of Applied Physics JSC develops air-launched unguided rockets and projectiles.
  • Information Telecommunication Technologies Joint Stock Company produces hardware and software for submarines and surface ships.
  • Joint Stock Company Class develops and manufactures armor, ceramic composite shields, shockproof protection systems, and armored fortified structures.
  • Joint Stock Company Duks produces aircraft and bomber weapons. 
  • JSC Innovation Weapons Technologies develops intelligent automated thermal imaging sights and surveillance systems.
  • Joint Stock Company Scientific Research Institute of Mechanization of Krasnoarmeysk is involved in the preparation of explosive materials, including technology and equipment for ammunition ordnance.
  • Limited Liability Company Pointer imports rifle sights used by Russian snipers. 
  • Limited Liability Company Scientific and Production Association Naukasoft engineers navigation, control, and power systems for aircraft and develops systems for weapons development.
  • Limited Liability Company United Lifesaving Technologies makes protective transport packaging and protective cases and containers for weapons and equipment utilized by the Russian military. 
  • Lipetskii Mekhanicheskii Zavod manufactures military vehicles, including tactical combat vehicles and armored vehicles. 
  • OKO Design Bureau develops cheap multifunctional UAVs, including a one-way attack UAV. 
  • Open Joint Stock Company Kazan Plant Electropribor is an aviation equipment manufacturer whose partners include U.S.-designated Russian defense companies JSC Russian Helicopters and United Aircraft Corporation. 

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Bolkhovskii Zavod Poluprovodnikovykh Priborov manufactures semiconductor devices, including semiconductor diodes intended for military use.
  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Construction Bureau Electrical Products XXI Century designs, manufactures, and tests high-technology aviation products.
  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Fryazinskii Zavod Moshchnykh Tranzistorov manufactures semiconductor devices, including special-purpose equipment for use in Russian weapons systems.
  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Proektno Konstruktorskoe Byuro Rio designs automated communication complexes for Russian naval vessels.
  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Pyezo manufactures military and dual-use semiconductors and electronic components.
  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Zavod Proton develops and produces radioelectronic equipment for military projects.
  • Alexander Electric Don manufactures military filtration modules.
  • Alexander Electric Power Supplies is a Russian Ministry of Defense partner that manufactures electric motors, generators, and transformers.
  • Carbonim Engineering Limited Liability Company manufactures fiberglass, carbon fiberglass, and plastic products.
  • Diagnostika M LLC develops and produces technology used for detecting UAVs and various types of explosives.
  • Federal Research and Production Center Joint Stock Company Research and Production Association Mars manufactures electronics and creates computer systems for the Russian Navy.
  • Intellektualnye Sistemy NN Limited Liability Company manufactures laser optical elements for military applications.
  • Joint Stock Company Elecond manufactures semiconductor capacitors marketed to the Russian military-industrial base.
  • Joint Stock Company Electroavtomatika manufactures command and staff vehicles, power plants, and movable battery stations and chargers for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • Joint Stock Company Jupiter Plant designs and produces optical and optical-electronic devices, precise optical and mechanical components, night vision devices, micro-optics, and aiming sights for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • Joint Stock Company Manel is a manufacturing company that develops micro-arc oxidation technology.
  • Joint Stock Company Memotherm MM manufactures cable fittings including drops, tubes, sleeves, couplings, and seals with military applications.
  • Joint Stock Company Research and Production Enterprise Izmeritel develops and produces onboard control and flight data registration units, indication systems for navigation, system control and regulation units for aircraft and helicopters, and control systems for unmanned aircraft.
  • Joint Stock Company Special Design Bureau of the Cable Industry manufactures wires and cables for electronic equipment capable of operation in extreme conditions used by Russia’s military-industrial base.
  • Joint Stock Company Umirs develops radar protection devices for UAVs.
  • Joint Stock Company Vladimir Plant of Metal Hoses manufactures high-pressure corrugated metal hoses and bellow expansion joints and supplies special-purpose products to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • JSC Biograd produces industrial metal 3D printing machines.
  • JSC Vladimir Plant of Precision Alloys manufactures high-precision alloys.
  • Lasercut Limited Liability Company manufactures machine tools and is a partner of Rostec. 
  • Lassard produces lasers and optomechanical products, and partners with other companies developing engines for military aviation and the Russian Navy.
  • Laticom LTD (Laticom) manufactures metalworking machinery and tools for soldering, brazing, and welding.
  • Lazerbi develops and manufactures laser equipment for metalworking and machine tools. Lazerbi partners with at least one entity engaged in production for military customers.
  • Limited Liability Company Conferum develops and manufactures industrial cleaning products used by mechanical engineering enterprises, in metallurgy, construction, shipbuilding, and in automotive, aviation, and railway transport.
  • Limited Liability Company Eliars develops and manufactures microwave equipment and produces electronic warfare systems.
  • Limited Liability Company Hotu Tent manufactures thermal imaging detection protection products used by the Russian military.
  • Limited Liability Company K.ARMA manufactures products for the modernization of firearms that are used by the Russian military.
  • Limited Liability Company Laserform manufactures and supplies metalworking and laser equipment to large Russian state-owned conglomerates.
  • Limited Liability Company Lencabel manufactures flexible power cables for harsh operating conditions, including for use in UAVs and balloons.
  • Limited Liability Company Newton Technics produces specialized chemicals for cleaning firearms.
  • Limited Liability Company Quantum Optics develops and produces laser devices and systems for use in harsh conditions, including in UAVs.
  • Limited Liability Company Radioizmereniya produces and supplies radio devices.
  • Limited Liability Company Srednevolzhsky Stankozavod produces ultraprecision lathes and metal-forming machinery.
  • Limited Liability Company Trading and Production Complex Maximum manufactures drive, lifting, and transport equipment, including gearboxes, gear motors, overhead cranes, cantilever cranes, hoists, and winches.
  • Limited Liability Company Unique Lab produces chemical products with nanotechnological properties, and develops, tests, and produces chemicals for small arms.
  • Limited Liability Company Virsemi develops and produces epoxy material for the semiconductor industry.
  • Limited Liability Company World of Fasteners TD supplies and manufactures fasteners and tools for the construction and manufacturing industries.
  • LLC Inno Beton 21 manufactures concrete cloths that are used for the efficient laying of concrete coatings for industrial, military, and road transport construction.
  • LLC Mospress manufactures metal parts, drawing and stamping equipment, and equipment for rotary drawing of parts. 
  • LLC Zavod Spetsagregat manufactures multipurpose vehicles, tractor-based machinery, and aircraft maintenance equipment and works with the Russian Ministry of Defense to fulfill state defense orders.
  • Magneton Joint Stock Company manufactures electronic components and semiconductors to support Russia’s military programs.
  • Manufacturing Company LTD Lema develops and manufactures radioelectronic products.
  • Meridian Research and Production Firm JSC researches, develops, and produces ship and vessel systems, including warship integrated combat management systems, ship weapon joint employment systems, and automated helicopter UAV group flight and landing control systems.
  • Metma Metal and Ceramic Materials Plant JSC produces anti-corrosive bearings and bushes made of powder composition materials, and is a supplier for U.S.-designated Russian defense companies Kamaz and JSC Russian Helicopters.
  • MMP Irbis designs, develops, and supplies power electronics devices that meet Russian military requirements.
  • OOO Gikel manufactures printed circuit boards, electronic components, finished electronic modules, and secondary power adapters for military use.
  • Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Vserossiiskii Nauchno Issledovatelskii Proektno Konstruktorskii i Tekhnologicheskii Institut Kabelnoi Promyshlennosti manufactures wires and cables for electronic equipment and holds a license for producing military equipment.
  • Public Joint Stock Company Avtodizel Yaroslavl Motor Plant manufactures diesel engines, including engines supplied to the Russian Army.
  • The Group of Companies Electroninvest Joint Stock Company manufactures electronic components and is a partner of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • Treal M Limited Liability Company produces chemicals for cleaning weapons.
  • Unified Metalworking Center manufactures metal products including hydraulic pneumatic power equipment, pumps and compressors, fluid power equipment, and air and gas compressors.

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

  • Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Konstruktorskoe Byuro Farvater develops and designs software and modules for radioelectronic, fiber-optic, and radio-photonic equipment.
  • Inkotekh supplies electronic components, functional units for microwave equipment, and printed circuit boards.
  • Nauchno Proizvodstvennaya Firma Dolomant offers custom development and contract electronics manufacturing for niche markets like transportation and security.
  • OOO Yupel supplies electronic components.
  • Joint Stock Company IBS IT Services is a Russian information technology company that is the parent company of the IBS group of companies, which has a line of business focused on government programs and has completed a digitalization project for Rostec. Other companies in the IBS group of companies include Limited Liability Company IBS Infinisoft, a software company that creates products to help expand the capabilities of the Government of the Russian Federation; IBS Soft Ltd, a software company; and IBS Expertise, a company involved in the provision of cryptographic solutions.
  • LANIT Incorporated (LANIT) is a Russian information technology company whose customers include the Russian Ministry of Defense and U.S.-designated military-industrial base entities such as Rostec and United Aircraft Corporation. 
  • Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Filakskom develops and implements information technology solutions for government and corporate customers. 
  • Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Signum is a computer programming company whose solutions are used by Russian defense enterprises.
  • Orion Limited Liability Company helps Russian government organizations modernize their information technology infrastructure, launch digital transformation processes, and implement import substitution projects.
  • Public Joint Stock Company Astra Group is involved in software development and is the parent company of the developer of an operating system relied on by the Russian military-industrial base and Russian military. 
  • Secret Technologiesprovides advanced information technology and information security services and solutions and serves large state-owned enterprises.
  • Limited Liability Company Skala R is the developer and manufacturer of a modular platform for government information systems.
  • CSOFT Development develops specialized software for the management of industrial enterprises, engineering analysis, and industrial construction.
  • JSC Consulting Group Postprocessor implements integrated CAD products.
  • Nauchno Inzhenernoe Predpriyatie Informatika provides computer-aided design solutions in mechanical and civil engineering and computer-aided manufacturing software for computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
  • Purelogic develops electronics, automation systems, and components for CNC machines.
  • Aladdin RD develops components for information security and data protection infrastructure and advertises its goods to the military-industrial base. 
  • Alpha M Joint Stock Company Research and Production Complex researches and produces radioelectronic products, including automatic tracking devices for ground, surface, and air targets.
  • Arta System Limited develops special IT products for monitoring and managing technological processes and production complexes.
  • Aviv LLC supplies dual-use printed circuit boards, electronic components, secondary power adaptors, and electronic modules.
  • Component Logistic Limited Liability Company is a wholesaler of electronic equipment. 
  • Cybersecurity Center LLC develops specialized software and services in the field of cybersecurity, including software products for cyber intelligence and data analytics.
  • Elar has developed specialized technological systems for the Russian National Guard.
  • Elektronnyi Arkhiv implements advanced solutions for digital transformation and is focused on the development and supply of import-substituting digitization technologies.
  • Hardberry Limited Liability Company hold patents for UAV control software and neural network software for object recognition.
  • IVK Joint Stock Company develops and produces software and hardware for firewall and cryptographic use.
  • Joint Stock Company Integral Zapad supplies electronic components. 
  • Joint Stock Company Ramec VS is a system integrator that designs, develops, tests, and produces special computer equipment and information security products government use.
  • Joint Stock Company RM Technologies (RM Technologies) develops and manufactures digital security and information preservation products. RM Technologies is also involved in the modernization of Russian anti-UAV systems.
  • Joint Stock Company Sea Project develops software and hardware complexes, electronics, and software and informational support for military facilities.
  • K Technologies Joint Stock Company offers integrated automated control systems, command centers, and information security systems.
  • Limited Liability Company MIRP Intellectual Systems specializes in artificial intelligence and has developed software designed for use on specialized UAV on-board computers. 
  • Limited Liability Company Protey Spetstekhnika develops and produces telecommunication systems for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • Limited Liability Company Vipaks+ develops and produces intelligent video surveillance systems.
  • Mezhdunarodnyi Klub OpticheskikhInnovatsii focuses on high-tech optical equipment, including high-speed imaging, industrial cameras and vision components, optical measurement systems, and laser sensors. 
  • Aleksei Vladimirovich Pankrashkin is a director of a Russia-based company supplying laser and LED radiation sources and has served as the General Director and shareholder of U.S.-designated Russian technology company Intech Engineering LTD.
  • Red Dolphin Joint Stock Company  develops and manufactures rugged electronics for severe environments, including for military installations.
  • Scientific Equipment Group of Companies provides high-tech equipment to industrial enterprises. 
  • Smart Turbo Technology LTD develops custom software, including analytics software products marketed to Russia’s military industrial base.
  • Susu Computer Engineering Center provides a full range of engineering services using a combination of computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) solutions.
  • SWD Embedded Systems develops software products, including an artificial intelligence platform and a cartographic system. 

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:

  • FPK Transagency JSC provides railway transportation services for the transportation of military cargo and military equipment.

  • Limited Liability Company Eastern Trading Transport Company transports military equipment. 

  • Limited Liability Company Reil Trein Service provides railway transportation services for the transportation of military equipment. 

ANNEX 3: NITROCELLULOSE

PRC-based Hengshui Heshuo Cellulose Co., Ltd. (Hengshui Heshuo) has shipped large quantities of nitrocellulose to Russian companies. The company also produces nitrocellulose shipped by Hengshui Yuanchem. PRC-based Hengshui Yuanchem Trading Limited (Hengshui Yuanchem) has shipped large quantities of nitrocellulose to Russian companies, including nitrocellulose produced by Hengshui Heshuo. Henshui Heshuo and Hengshui Yuanchem were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based AMS Group LLC (AMS) is a supplier of industrial chemical products, including cotton cellulose. AMS works with Russian defense enterprises such as U.S.-designated Russian explosive and ammunition manufacturer Kazanskii Gosudarstvennyi Kazennyi Porokhovoi Zavod (Kazan Gunpowder Plant). AMS is a major importer of nitrocellulose to Russia, including from east Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. AMS was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Russia-based Feniks is involved in construction, demolition, and excavation, and is an importer of cotton pulp, a crucial ingredient in nitrocellulose, from Central Asia. Feniks was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based transportation, warehousing, and cargo handling company Khimtreid imports cotton cellulose from Central Asia and has sold it to Russian military factories. Khimtreid was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based chemical product manufacturer LTD Bina Group (Bina) imports cotton pulp from Central Asia and east Asia and resells it to Russian military companies. Bina was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based chemical and chemical product manufacturer Limited Liability Company Biya Khim (Biya Khim) imports significant quantities of cotton pulp from Central Asia and Türkiye. Biya Khim was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based Limited Liability Company Lenakhim (Lenakhim) operates in the market for the production of chemical reagents. Lenakhim imports cotton pulp and cotton cellulose from Central Asia and Türkiye and sells it to Russian military factories involved in the production of explosives. Lenakhim is one of the main suppliers of the U.S.-designated Kazan Gunpowder Plant. Lenakhim was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based Limited Liability Company Navimaks Group (Navimaks) supplies cotton pulp and other products to Russian defense industry and other Russian manufacturers. Navikmaks imports cotton pulp from Central Asia, Europe, and east Asia. Navimaks was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Russia-based electrical, industrial, and ventilation equipment manufacturer Limited Liability Company Yarspetspostavka (Yarspetspostavka) also imports cotton pulp from Central Asia. Yarspetspostavka was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Russia-based paper and textile manufacturer Otradnenskaya Paper and Carton Factory Limited Liability Company (OPCF) imports cotton pulp from Central Asia. OPCF was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. 

Russia-basedmanufacturing company Print Kolor is among Russia’s largest importers of nitrocellulose. Print Kolor was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based mining and quarrying company Proizvodstvenno Kommercheskaya Kompaniya Viva (Viva) imports large quantities of cotton pulp from Central Asia, east Asia, and the Middle East. Viva was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Russia-based manufacturing company Limited Liability Company Stroytekhnologiya (Stroytekhnologiya) is among Russia’s largest importers of nitrocellulose. Stroytekhnologiya was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

ANNEX 4: RUSSIA’S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM PROCUREMENT

Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Rau Farm (Rau Farm), with Inteller LLC (Inteller) acting as an intermediary, has procured sensitive laboratory equipment for the benefit of the U.S.-designated 27th Scientific Center. Rau Farm, with Inteller acting as an intermediary, maintained contracts with an entity associated with Russia’s chemical and biological weapons program, for the procurement of this equipment for the benefit of the 27th Scientific Center. Rau Farm historically maintained direct government contracts with the U.S.-designated 27th Scientific Center for the procurement of U.S.- and Japanese-origin laboratory equipment and consumables. The 27th Scientific Center has engaged in activities to develop Russia’s chemical weapons capabilities, including chemical weapons research and testing activities. Rau Farm was added to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List on March 2, 2021, based on its proliferation activities in support of Russia’s weapons of mass destruction program.

Rau Farm was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the 27th Scientific Center. Inteller was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Rau Farm. Rau Farm and Inteller were also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Andrei Viktorovich Gavryuchenkov (Gavryuchenkov) serves as the General Director of Rau Farm. Gavryuchenkov is responsible for the day-to-day responsibilities of running Rau Farm.

Gavryuchenkov was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Rau Farm. Gavryuchenkov was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Yaroslav Viktorovich Bulygin (Bulygin) serves as the General Director of Inteller. Bulygin is also the 100 percent shareholder of the company. Bulygin is responsible for the day-to-day responsibilities of running Inteller.

Bulygin was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Inteller. Bulygin was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Obshchestvo S Organichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Bio Farm Treid (Bio Farm Treid) is managed by Gavryuchenkov, who incorporated the company in May 2021, soon after the March 2021 listing of Rau Farm on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, in a likely circumvention effort.

Bio Farm Treid was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Gavryuchenkov. Bio Farm Treid was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly Gavryuchenkov.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. 

In addition, foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions or provide any service involving Russia’s military-industrial base run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC. Examples of activities that could expose foreign financial institutions to sanctions risk under E.O. 14024, as amended, include maintaining accounts, transferring funds, or providing other financial services (i.e., payment processing, trade finance, insurance) for any persons designated for operating or having operated in the specified sectors, or for any persons, either inside or outside Russia, that support Russia’s military-industrial base, including those that operate in the specified sectors of the Russian Federation economy. For additional guidance, please see the December 22, 2023 OFAC Sanctions Advisory as well as OFAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1146-1157.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s FAQ 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

 

For identifying information on the individuals and entities sanctioned today, click here. 

 

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Report on Foreign Portfolio Holdings of U.S. Securities at End-June 2023

WASHINGTON – The final results from the annual survey of foreign portfolio holdings of U.S. securities at the end of June 2023 were released today on the Treasury website. The survey was undertaken jointly by Treasury, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The next survey will cover holdings at the end of June 2024; preliminary data are expected to be released by February 28, 2025.

Complementary surveys measuring U.S. holdings of foreign securities are also carried out annually. Data from the most recent survey, reporting on securities held at year-end 2023, are currently being processed. Preliminary results are expected to be reported by August 30, 2024.

The survey measured the value of foreign portfolio holdings of U.S. securities as of June 30, 2023, to be $26,872 billion, with $13,719 billion held in U.S. equities, $11,967 billion in U.S. long-term debt securities [/1] (of which $1,547 billion are holdings of asset-backed securities (ABS) [/2] and $10,420 billion are holdings of non-ABS securities), and $1,186 billion held in U.S. short-term debt securities. The previous survey, conducted as of June 30, 2022, measured the value of total foreign holdings of U.S. securities at $24,893 billion, with holdings of $12,177 billion in U.S. equities, $11,591 billion in U.S. long-term debt securities, and $1,124 billion in U.S. short-term debt securities (see Table A).

 

[/1] Long-term debt securities have an original term-to-maturity of over one year.

[/2] Asset-backed securities are backed by pools of assets, such as pools of residential home mortgages or credit card receivables, which give the security owners claims against the cash flows generated by the underlying assets. Unlike most other debt securities, these securities generally repay both principal and interest on a regular basis, reducing the principal outstanding with each payment cycle. 

 

Table A.   Foreign holdings of U.S. securities, 

by type of security, as of selected survey dates

(Billions of dollars)

 

June 30, 2022

June 30, 2023

Long-term securities 23,768 25,686
Equities 12,177 13,719
Long-term debt 11,591 11,967
Asset-backed 1,494 1,547
Other 10,097 10,420
Short-term debt securities 1,124 1,186
Total 24,893 26,872
Of which: Official 5,946 6,146

 

 

Table B. Foreign holdings of U.S. securities, by country and type of security, 

for the major investing countries into the United States, as of June 30, 2023

(Billions of dollars)

Country or category

Total

Equities

Long-term debt

Short-term debt

        Treasury Agency Corporate
1 United Kingdom

2,627

1,457

580

55

435

99

2 Japan

2,494

837

1,035

253

300

69

3 Cayman Islands

2,365

1,575

155

30

477

128

4 Luxembourg

2,094

1,088

255

39

584

129

5 Canada

2,055

1,458

248

106

213

30

6 Ireland

1,476

842

202

37

248

148

7 China, mainland [i]

1,432

309

829

270

19

5

8 Switzerland

1,087

683

242

8

91

63

9 Belgium

980

85

259

11

552

72

10 Taiwan

717

112

236

208

154

6

11 Norway

693

511

126

*

56

1

12 France

679

363

196

20

78

22

13 Singapore

674

408

178

7

71

9

14 Germany

623

412

83

5

110

13

15 Korea, South

585

387

103

37

47

12

16 Australia

571

474

44

6

34

14

17 Netherlands

478

320

72

16

66

4

18 Hong Kong

434

168

169

8

59

30

19 Kuwait

375

279

40

4

27

25

20 Sweden

365

315

42

*

8

1

21 Bermuda

364

131

42

22

124

45

22 Saudi Arabia

306

184

100

3

8

11

23 India

248

12

233

*

1

2

24 Brazil

246

17

223

*

1

5

25 British Virgin Islands

220

135

34

2

26

23

Other

2,682

1,159

911

122

273

218

Total

26,872

13,719

6,639

1,270

4,059

1,186

  of which: Official

6,146

1,554

3,544

657

168

224

 

* Less than $500 million but more than zero.

[i] Excludes Hong Kong and Macau, which are reported separately.

 

READOUT: U.S. Department of the Treasury and White House Host Convening with Community Development Financial Institutions and Child Care Providers

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and White House convened a discussion with owners and operators of small childcare businesses, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and local and national leaders to discuss best practices for collaboration between child care providers and CDFIs to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care.

In addition to remarks from Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein and Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, the convening featured remarks from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community and Economic Development Noel Poyo, who discussed the role of CDFIs in supporting childcare businesses and fostering community development, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consumer Policy Suzanna Fritzberg. The convening also included testimony from childcare providers, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities faced by owners of small center- and home-based child care businesses, a group disproportionately composed of women of color. The event’s panel discussion among CDFIs further highlighted opportunities for partnership. Today’s convening was held pursuant to Executive Order 14095, which directed Treasury to provide information to and share industry best practices with CDFIs to facilitate capital flows and support to care providers. Treasury has been a leader in the promotion of access to affordable, high-quality childcare during the Biden-Harris Administration, including through funding made available through pandemic recovery programs and the publication of a 2021 report on the economics of childcare.

 

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Testimony of Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen Before the Committee on Ways & Means, U.S. House of Representatives

As Prepared for Delivery

Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Neal, and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the invitation to testify.

The Biden Administration has driven a historic economic recovery over the past three years. GDP growth has been strong, growing 3.0 percent over the past four quarters. Inflation has decreased significantly since its peak, though we have more work to do. The labor market is also remarkably healthy, with the unemployment rate below four percent for the longest stretch in over 50 years. Real wages and household median wealth have increased since before the pandemic, and families are putting their additional income and accumulated savings back into the economy. Consumer sentiment is up 21 percent from one year ago.

President Biden and I are taking additional actions to bring down the costs of key household expenses like energy, prescription drugs, and housing. We’re also focused on expanding our economy’s capacity to create good jobs, while reducing the deficit. As we implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re creating economic opportunity for Americans across the country, including those without college degrees, and in communities that had historically been overlooked or left behind. Companies have announced over $675 billion in clean energy and manufacturing investments since the start of this Administration, some of which I’ve gotten the opportunity to see firsthand.

The modernization of the Internal Revenue Service, made possible by the IRA and discretionary appropriations, has enabled us to combat tax evasion by the wealthiest Americans that costs our country over $150 billion a year. And it’s made it easier for taxpayers to file their taxes and get the credits they’re owed. We met or exceeded all the goals we set for this filing season, including reaching an 88 percent level of service, saving taxpayers over 1.4 million hours of hold time, and providing an additional 11,000 hours of in-person assistance compared to last year. We also successfully launched the Direct File Pilot Program, an easy, free, and secure way to file taxes on a computer or a mobile device, with over 140,000 accepted returns in this first year.

The President’s Budget proposes additional investments to lower costs for workers and families and strengthen our economy while reducing the deficit, including making permanent the expansion of tax credits for health insurance premiums enacted in the American Rescue Plan and extended in the IRA and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. These proposals would help make health care more affordable, reduce child poverty, and give working families more breathing room in their household budgets.  

We can make these investments while reducing the deficit by $3 trillion over a decade through a combination of smart savings and tax proposals. President Biden and I have proposed implementing a Billionaire Minimum Tax so that the top .01 percent pay their fair share; raising the tax on corporate stock buybacks to encourage businesses to reinvest profits in their workers and grow their companies; and closing estate and gift tax loopholes that allow wealthy Americans to pay less than they would otherwise owe. 

As a whole, the President’s Budget will enable us to address costs that families face right now and to bolster our country’s economic strength for the years ahead. I’ll now take your questions.

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Remarks by Under Secretary Brian Nelson at ACI’s Annual Flagship Conference on Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance

As Prepared for Delivery

Thank you very much to ACI for inviting me here today. I’m very pleased to be back with this distinguished group of practitioners. I want to thank you for your continued frontline work to advise market participants on sensitive sanctions enforcement and compliance matters, especially during this time of great political and economic upheaval.

In December 2021, as many of you are likely aware, Treasury conducted a review of the use of sanctions. The review’s findings identified ways that Treasury would seek to ensure that the design, imposition, implementation, and enforcement of sanctions are more rigorous, more focused, and better fit to purpose. 

My staff have been working tirelessly ever since to put these findings into practice.

We have sought to broaden the impact of our sanctions through multilateral partnerships and joint implementation. We have also deepened engagement with you all in the private sector to make our sanctions easier to understand and, therefore, implement.

Further, we have promoted a targeted approach to sanctions implementation by deploying, where appropriate, mitigation measures designed to curb the unintended impacts of our actions.

The United States faces a changing world where financial innovation, shifts in global economic activity, and new geopolitical challenges are redefining how we use economic measures to support our national security objectives. By modernizing and adapting our sanctions policy and operational framework, Treasury is prepared to effectively confront these changes.

MULTILATERAL APPROACH TO SANCTIONS IN RUSSIA, MIDEAST AND BEYOND

Nowhere is our close coordination with partners and allies better reflected than in our joint responses to Russia’s brutal and illegal further invasion of Ukraine over the last two years.

In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, the United States and more than 30 allies and partners representing more than 50 percent of the global economy worked together at unprecedented speed to impose sanctions and other economic measures against the Russian Federation, its leadership, and those who enable it.

Two years on, those partnerships to build on, implement, and enforce our sanctions remain strong and continue to reduce Russian revenue and hamper Russia’s ability to acquire priority goods for their war machine.

Multilateral sanctions and export controls have caused Russia’s financial sector losses of hundreds of billions of dollars and created major setbacks for Russia’s technological advancement.

One example is the continued implementation of the multilateral price cap sanctions.

Under the price cap, members of the G7,Australia, and New Zealand have worked together to restrict Russia’s oil revenues, while keeping global energy markets stable. Despite initial skepticism, the price cap was successful over 2023—with Russia’s oil and gas tax revenues declining by almost 40 percent from January through October compared to the same period in 2022, without major disruptions to global oil markets.

In October, the price cap coalition shifted into phase two, which aims to tighten enforcement against the use of Coalition services outside the cap, while increasing the costs to the Kremlin of selling oil through an alternative shipping ecosystem.

Our data shows that Coalition sanctions enforcement is forcing Russia to sell oil at a steeper discount since the advent of phase two, while global oil markets have remained stable – a reassuring endorsement of our multilateral approach.

As we move into the next phase of our efforts to disrupt Russia’s military- industrial base by combatting Russian sanctions and export controls circumvention, both domestically and abroad, our continued ability to deny Russia the technology and inputs it needs to maintain and improve their military capabilities will be a direct function of the size and strength of our global response. And our multilateral work is not limited to Russia – it has extended over multiple programs, including our Counterterrorism, Cyber, Human Rights, and Counternarcotics sanctions, as well as country-specific programs like DPRK and Sudan.

In response to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, for example, Treasury, along with G7 partners, launched a sustained, global campaign against Hamas financing, and the EU created a new dedicated Hamas sanctions authority, which it used to designate several Hamas leaders and facilitators.

The U.S. and UK also took swift and decisive action to impose coordinated sanctions targeting several Iranian military organizations, individuals, and entities involved in Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile industries.

Treasury, the UK, and the EU have also taken action against malicious actors who undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank and Gaza in an effort to ensure that Israelis and Palestinians can attain equal measures of prosperity and freedom.

Our commitment to multilateralism and joint action in response to Russian aggression and the emboldened actions of Iran-backed terrorist proxy groups including Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis is essential to a more effective approach to address malign activities throughout the world.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE

Our sanctions partnership, however, is not solely comprised of nation states. We have the benefit of having institutional leaders across the world who are willing to stand up for the values that drive all our work at Treasury.

Treasury has expanded our outreach with industry and trade groups to understand compliance challenges. We also continue to tailor our guidance to specific sectors and market activities, as we recognize that both foreign and domestic institutions are on the frontlines of sanctions implementation.

We are increasingly doing this work in partnership with the Commerce Department given the intersection of sanctions evasion and export control violations.

Facilitators of Russian sanctions evasion, both within Russia and outside of Russia, are now on notice that the United States and our allies and partners will not hesitate to expose and disrupt attempts to support Russia and its war efforts.

President Biden made this abundantly clear when he issued the amendment to Executive Order 14024, which indicated to foreign financial institutions that facilitating significant transactions relating to Russia’s military- industrial base may expose them to U.S. sanctions.

To further these efforts, two weeks ago, I, along with my counterparts at Commerce and State convened senior finance ministry officials from the G7, as well as Australia and the Republic of Korea.

We committed to collectively devote more time and energy to bolstering sanctions and export controls compliance domestically through comprehensive private sector engagement over the coming months.

SHARPENING OUR TOOLS: CONSIDERED DEPLOYMENT, MITIGATION, AND HUMANITARIAN AID

Providing clear, plain language guidance or licenses to authorize specific conduct is also key to Treasury’s commitment to address financial sector de- risking, which may serve to hamper the unencumbered flow of development funding, as well as humanitarian and disaster relief, to vulnerable civilian populations.

In December 2022, Treasury took a major step forward to lead efforts at the United Nations to adopt UN Security Council Resolution 2664, which added a humanitarian exception across UN asset freeze programs. The United States acted quickly to implement the Resolution in our domestic regulations by issuing a set of baseline general licenses in our UN-based sanctions programs.

Further, we continue to issue additional authorizations for designations that risk humanitarian impacts to civilian populations in vulnerable jurisdictions like Yemen that are at the center of pressing global security challenges. We also continue to do roundtables and outreach to humanitarian groups and the sector to understand their compliance challenges to assist and update or clarify guidance as needed.

CONCLUSION

Since I joined Treasury in December 2021, I’ve challenged my team to continue to think creatively about how we are deploying our sanctions authorities and resources. I am consistently impressed with the results of their efforts and very excited about the work we’ve been doing and look forward to all that we can continue to achieve together.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to be with you today.

U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Energy Release Additional Guidance on Inflation Reduction Act Programs to Incentivize Manufacturing and Clean Energy Investments in Hard-Hit Coal Communities

The Biden-Harris Administration Announces Upcoming $6 Billion Tax Credit Allocation Round to Build Clean Energy Supply Chains and Drive Advanced Energy Project Investments, Including Approximately $2.5 Billion Reserved for Historic Energy Communities

WASHINGTON – Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released additional information on key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to strengthen energy security and drive investment to hard-hit coal communities and underserved communities.

Treasury and IRS established the expanded Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit (§ 48C) program under § 48C of the Internal Revenue Code. Today, Treasury and the IRS released a notice that provides additional information about the second allocation round under the program. 

“President Biden’s economic agenda ensures all communities benefit from the growth of the clean energy economy by driving investment in areas of the country that have often been overlooked,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “These investments will improve the nation’s energy security and create good-paying jobs in vital fields like clean-energy manufacturing and critical materials processing. They will also allow for existing energy infrastructure to be retooled for the clean energy economy. All this work will contribute to lower energy costs for families who have struggled to pay their utility bills.”

“Every community can benefit from President Biden’s agenda to Invest in America through the revitalization of domestic manufacturing, the strengthening of domestic clean energy supply chains and the modernization of our nation’s industrial sector,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk. “The guidance announced today, building on the initial $4 billion in allocations, will help usher in investments that will further spur the creation of quality jobs in every pocket of our country including traditional energy communities, while strengthening our energy resilience and security.”

“The Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program is a game-changer for clean energy investment,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. “This credit will help companies tap the talent and innovative potential of the energy communities and workers who have powered our nation for more than a century.” 

The Inflation Reduction Act provided $10 billion in new funding for the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program, renewing and expanding a tax credit created in 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Congress required that at least $4 billion be reserved for projects in communities that have been directly impacted by the closure of a coal mine or coal-fired power plant (§ 48C energy communities). It provides incentives for clean energy manufacturing and recycling, industrial decarbonization, and critical materials processing, refining, and recycling. A broad variety of projects are eligible to apply for an investment tax credit of up to 30 percent, ranging from manufacturing of fuel cells and components for geothermal electricity and hydropower, to producing carbon capture equipment or installing it at an industrial facility, to critical minerals processing. Projects must meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements to receive the full 30 percent tax credit.

The § 48C program received significant interest from industry in Round 1, which allocated a total of $4 billion, including approximately $1.5 billion going to projects in 48C energy communities with closed coal mines or coal plants. The $4 billion available for allocations in Round 1 was significantly oversubscribed, with applicants submitting concept papers—a project proposal—seeking nearly $42 billion in tax credits across all categories of projects, including nearly $11 billion for projects in § 48C energy communities. 

Today’s notice describes how interested parties can apply for an allocation in Round 2 of the § 48C program, totaling up to $6 billion, with approximately $2.5 billion going to projects in § 48C energy communities. To apply to Round 2, taxpayers will have a similar application process. Taxpayers must first submit concept papers describing the proposed project. Taxpayers whose concept papers receive a favorable review will be encouraged to submit a full application. DOE will evaluate concept papers and applications across multiple criteria and policy factors prior to making allocation recommendations to Treasury, including (1) commercial viability; (2) greenhouse gas emissions impacts; (3) strengthening U.S. supply chains and domestic manufacturing for a net-zero economy; and (4) workforce and community engagement.

The §48C portal will open and allow users to register and submit Round 2 concept papers starting no later than May 28th, 2024.  The deadline for concept papers will be 5:00 PM Eastern time on the 30th day after the § 48C portal opens for registration and concept paper submissions. Taxpayers that submitted concept papers or applications in Round 1 must submit a concept paper and full application to be considered for Round 2. More information for potential applicants, including a § 48C mapping tool, is available on the Department of Energy’s § 48C webpage. Treasury and DOE will hold a joint informational webinar in May for potential applicants, with registration information to be provided on DOE’s § 48C program website.

Learn more about the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C).

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