Texas Company Settles Allegations Of Antiboycott Violations

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced today that Messina, Inc. of Dallas, TX (Messina), has agreed to pay a $10,800 civil penalty to settle allegations that it violated the antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) on two occasions.

“The Department of Commerce will continue to aggressively enforce its regulations prohibiting U.S. companies from taking any action in support of restrictive trade practices or unsanctioned boycotts,” David Mills, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, said.

BIS, through its Office of Antiboycott Compliance, alleged that in 2004, in connection with two letter of credit transactions involving the sale and transfer of goods destined for Iraq that were shipped through the UAE, Messina furnished to a U.S. bank two certificates signed by the agent for a vessel that attested to the vessel’s eligibility to call at the port of a boycotting country.  In doing so, Messina furnished information concerning other persons known or believed to be restricted from having any business relationship with or in a boycotting country, in violation of the antiboycott provisions of the EAR. 

BACKGROUND
The antiboycott provisions of the EAR prohibit U.S. persons from taking certain actions with the intent to comply with, further, or support unsanctioned foreign boycotts, including furnishing information about business relationships with or in a boycotted country or with blacklisted persons.  In addition, the EAR requires that persons report their receipt of certain boycott requests to the Department of Commerce.  For more information, please visit BIS’s Online Training Room at http://www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/seminar-training.htm or contact the OAC Advice Line at (202) 482-2381.

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