Chinese Tech Firm Subject to U.S. Sanctions for Supporting Censorship in Venezuela

On November 30, the United States sanctioned China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) by adding the Chinese technology company to the Specially Designated National (SDN) List. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the company under Executive Order 13692 for providing goods and services to the Venezuelan government that were used to undermine democracy in that country, including technology that could be used to monitor political opponents and repress political dissent within Venezuela. A press release issued by OFAC noted that CEIEC had provided censorship tools to CANTV, the Venezuelan state telecommunications company, which controls a substantial portion of internet service in the country.

As of the date of designation, U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting business with CEIEC and its over 200 subsidiaries without authorization from OFAC and all property and interests in property of the company are blocked (i.e., frozen) under U.S. law. Because of the wide potential reach of the sanctions, OFAC issued General License 38 to allow U.S. persons to wind-down pre-existing business with the company and its subsidiaries over a 45-day period.

Please contact our economic sanctions team if you have any questions about the designation or your sanctions risk profile.