Sunford Trading, Ltd. Settles Charges Related to Unlicensed Exports

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that Sunford Trading, Ltd. of Hong Kong , Special Administrative Region, will pay a $33,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it violated the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in connection with an unlicensed export to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In addition, a three-year denial of export privileges was also imposed upon Sunford.

BIS charged that between November 1998 and July 1999, Sunford acted in violation of, and conspired with others to violate, the EAR by causing the export of an industrial vacuum furnace to the PRC without the required Commerce Department license. Specifically, Sunford ordered the furnace knowing that a license was required, concealed the type of item being exported and the item’s actual end-user, and caused the export of the furnace despite the fact that the required license had not been obtained.

The Department of Commerce administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and short supply through the EAR. Criminal prosecution and administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of those regulations.

Acting Assistant Secretary Wendy L. Wysong commended the Boston Field Office for its efforts in this investigation.