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The Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) is responsible for implementing the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Act (EAA) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The Office performs three main functions: enforcing the antiboycott provisions of the EAR, assisting the public in complying with the antiboycott provisions of the EAR, and compiling and analyzing information regarding international boycotts. Compliance officers enforce the antiboycott provisions of the EAR through investigations and audits. The Compliance Policy Division provides advice and guidance to the public concerning application of the antiboycott provisions of the EAR and analyzes information about boycotts.
The investigators of the Enforcement Division implement the investigative and enforcement functions of the Office, which include conducting compliance reviews, investigating potential violations, issuing pre-charging letters for alleged violations, and negotiating settlements when violations have been alleged. The Enforcement Division also prepares settlement documents or charging letters to initiate administrative proceedings and prepares cases for civil litigation through the Office of the Chief Counsel for Export Administration or for criminal prosecution through the Department of Justice.
The Compliance Policy Division is responsible for developing and coordinating policies and initiatives to promote compliance with the antiboycott policies and requirements of the EAA. This includes preparing amendments, interpretations, and clarifications of the antiboycott provisions of the EAR; reviewing international boycott activity through communication with diplomatic posts; analyzing reports received by OAC; reviewing information from other sources; preparing reports on boycott activity for use by U.S. embassies and others in efforts to bring an end to the boycott; developing public education programs to assist U.S. companies in complying with the antiboycott provisions of the EAR; counseling parties on requirements of the law and how to comply with it; processing all boycott reports filed with the Department; and supervising the informal telephone advice provided by OAC professionals to members of the public.
During Fiscal Year 2007, ten companies agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $194,500 to settle allegations they violated the antiboycott provisions of the EAR. Most of the settlements reached during the Fiscal Year involved alleged violations of the prohibition against furnishing information about business relationships with or in Israel, or with companies on boycotting countries’ blacklists. Other settlements involved failure to report receipt of requests to engage in restrictive trade practices or boycotts.
In Fiscal Year 2007, BIS’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance responded to 1,097 requests from companies for guidance on compliance with the antiboycott regulations. During the same period, BIS officials made 16 public presentations on the antiboycott regulations to exporters, manufacturers, financial services institutions, freight forwarders, and attorneys involved in international trade. BIS also provided extensive counseling to individual companies with specific boycott problems.
In Fiscal Year 2007, BIS antiboycott investigations resulted in the completion of 10 administrative cases against individuals and businesses at $194,950. During the fiscal year, no criminal cases were closed.
See the BIS Annual Report for case information.