The full Southern Currents is below.

SUBJECT:  Area Port Guidance:  OFAC Issues General Licenses Authorizing Certain Transactions with Respect to Petroleum, Seafood, Alcoholic Beverages and Non-Industrial Diamond Importations from the Russian Federation

 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued GENERAL LICENSE NO.16: “Authorizing Transactions Related to Certain Imports Prohibited by Executive Order of March 8, 2022, Prohibiting Certain Imports and New Investments with Respect to Continued Russian Federation Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine.”   Part A of this general license states, “all transactions prohibited by Executive Order (EO) of March 8, 2022, Prohibiting Certain Imports and New Investments With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the United States of crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered prior to March 8, 2022 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, April 22, 2022.”

 

The OFAC has also issued GENERAL LICENSE NO. 17: Authorizing Transactions Related to Certain Imports Prohibited by Executive Order of March 11, 2022, which includes the importation into the United States of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages, or non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written contracts entered into prior to March 11, 2022, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 25, 2022.

 

IMPORTANT and FOR IMMEDIATE EFFECT:

 

For General License No. 16, CBP will therefore be requiring filers of entries or admissions to Foreign Trade Zones for shipments of crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products of Russian Federation origin to provide purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect. Such documentation will be required through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, April 22, 2022, after which General License No. 16 expires and EO issued March 8, 2022, takes full effect.

 

The full general license can be accessed here https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/russia_gl16.pdf

 

For General License No. 17, CBP will therefore be requiring filers of entries or admissions to Foreign Trade Zones for shipments of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; or non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin to provide purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect. Such documentation will be required through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 25, after which General License No. 17 expires and EO issued March 11, 2022, takes full effect.

 

The full general license can be accessed here https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/russia_gl17.pdf

 

CBP intends to require this documentation prior to unlading of the conveyances and will place holds on both unlading and cargo pending verification of the required information.  This information should be provided to CBP at the port of entry where the cargo is intended to be unladen and should include conveyance information, bill of lading number(s) and entry number(s) or FTZ admission information.  CBP encourages the submission of the proof required as soon as possible, preferably prior to arrival, to prevent any undue delays at ports for qualifying shipments.  Additional contact information and process may be provided, and this guidance will be updated appropriately.

 

In addition, effective immediately, shipments of crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products; fish, seafood and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; or non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin are not authorized for direct delivery privilege until further notice.  Admission via a CBP Form 214 or electronic equivalent will be required for the duration of this EO. 

 

CBP expects trade partners to continue to be proactive in identifying shipments subject to the EO and the General Licenses and to provide appropriate documentation to ensure compliance.

 

 

Area Port of New Orleans Guidance:

• CBP Officers will place bill of lading/manifest holds on the items specified under the GL.
• CBP Officers will not initially approve a CBP 3171 Lade Order, denying Preliminary Entrance for vessels transporting the specified items listed in the General Licenses until the requested documentation such as purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect is submitted, and reviewed and approved by the CBP Port Director.
• Documentation may be uploaded via DIS or sent to the neworleansTET@cbp.dhs.gov mailbox with the subject line: Russian sanctions and the bill of lading numbers.
• If the documentation provided on the shipments is approved, CBP Officers will remove the shipment bill of lading holds and approve the CBP 3171 Lade Order granting Preliminary Entrance on the vessel to enter port and unlade.
• Documentation should be provide to the Port of Entry along with the CBP 3171 Lade Order as soon as possible to allow ample time for CBP review and approval.  This will minimize delays and reduce port congestion.
• The New Orleans Marine Division Trade Enforcement Team [TET] is the primary contact to provide documentation and coordinate bill of lading holds and releases, CBP Form 3171 Lade Order approvals, and CBP Form 214 FTZ delivery in the Port of New Orleans.
• Contact the Ports of Morgan City, Gramercy, Baton Rouge and Lake Charles to coordinate bill of lading holds and releases, CBP Form 3171 Lade Order approvals, and CBP Form 214 FTZ delivery.
• CBP Form 3171 Lade Order processing procedures, along with contact information, is provided in Southern Currents 22-005, attached as reference.

 

This guidance will be updated as additional information becomes available.  Questions regarding this trade notice should be directed to Assistant Port Director Mark Choina at mark.s.choina@cbp.dhs.gov or via telephone at (504) 670-2287.