Every administration enforces certain regulations more robustly than the previous administration. One such example is the U.S. Anti-Boycott restrictions.

This regulation primarily focuses on the boycott of Israel by the Arab League. Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen who have all been determined by the U.S. government to currently enforce the Arab League boycott. It prohibits U.S. companies from conducting any business with any company that makes inquiries about the U.S. company’s business dealings with Israel or national/resident of Israel. Any such inquiries should be reported immediately to the U.S. Commerce Office of Antiboycott Compliance.

A recent example of enforcement of the Anti-Boycott regulations involved the below language contained on a commercial invoice for shipment to the UAE in 2019:

“We certify that no labor, capital, parts or raw materials of Israeli origin have been used in the printing, publishing or manufacture of these goods.” It also stated that none of the relevant parties were “part or parent companies of firms included on the Israeli boycott blacklist.”

This language was determined by investigators to constitute two violation of the Anti-Boycott regulations and this month the U.S. party was assessed a $44,750 civil penalty.

If you have any questions related to the Anti-Boycott regulations or have a concern regarding requests you have received from a customer, please contact our office.