2023-02112. Publication of Venezuela Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 14, 15, and Subsequent Iterations

AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION:

Publication of web general licenses.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing five general licenses (GLs) issued in the Venezuela Sanctions program: GLs 14, 15, 15A, 15B, and 15C, each of which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

DATES:

GL 14 was issued on January 28, 2019. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional relevant dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

OFAC: Assistant Director for Licensing, 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, 202-622-4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation, 202-622-2490.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Availability

This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available on OFAC's website: www.treas.gov/​ofac.

Background

On January 28, 2019, OFAC issued GL 14 to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13692 of March 8, 2015, “Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela” (80 FR 12747, March 11, 2015); E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, “Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect to the Situation in Venezuela” (82 FR 41155, August 29, 2017); E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, “Taking Additional Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela” (83 FR 12469, March 21, 2018); E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, “Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions With Respect to Venezuela” (83 FR 24001, May 24, 2018); and E.O. 13850 of November 1, 2018, “Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela” (83 FR 55243, November 2, 2018). On November 22, 2019, GL 14 was incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591.

On March 22, 2019, OFAC issued GL 15 to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850. Subsequently, OFAC issued three further iterations of GL 15: on April 17, 2019, OFAC issued GL 15A, which superseded GL 15; on August 5, 2019, OFAC issued GL 15B, which superseded GL 15A and authorized certain transactions otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, “Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela” (84 FR 38843, August 7, 2019) as well as those prohibited by E.O. 13850; and on March 12, 2020, OFAC issued GL 15C, which superseded GL 15B.

Each GL was made available on OFAC's website ( www.treas.gov/​ofac) when it was issued. The text of these GLs is provided below.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015

Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017

Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order 13827 of March 19, 2018

Taking Additional Steps To Address the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order 13835 of May 21, 2018

Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions With Respect to Venezuela

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE 14

Official Business of the United States Government

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions that are for the conduct of the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized.

(b) This general license does not authorize any transaction that is prohibited by any part of 31 CFR chapter V other than part 591.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: January 28, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15

Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks Prohibited by Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019 (“Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Venezuela”), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities of the following entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela) or Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo) are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 22, 2020:

• MasterCard Incorporated
• Visa Inc.
• American Express Company
• Western Union Company
• MoneyGram International

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes Uruguay);

(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a); or

(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited under E.O. 13850 of November 1, 2018, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

Bradley T. Smith,

Deputy Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: March 22, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15A

Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks Prohibited by Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019 (“Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Venezuela”) (E.O. 13850), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities of the following entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela), Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), or Banco Central de Venezuela are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 22, 2020:

• MasterCard Incorporated
• Visa Inc.
• American Express Company
• Western Union Company
• MoneyGram International

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes Uruguay);

(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13850 or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a); or

(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited under E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective April 17, 2019, General License No. 15, dated March 22, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 15A.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: April 17, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018

Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15B

Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. of August 5, 2019, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities of the following entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela), Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), Banco del Tesoro, C.A. Banco Universal (Banco del Tesoro), or Banco Central de Venezuela are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 22, 2020:

• MasterCard Incorporated
• Visa Inc.
• American Express Company
• Western Union Company
• MoneyGram International

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes Uruguay);

(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. of August 5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, as amended, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a); or

(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. of August 5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked persons identified in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective August 5, 2019, General License No. 15A, dated April 17, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 15B.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Venezuela Sanctions Regulations

31 CFR Part 591

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15C

Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks for Certain Entities

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13850 of November 1, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or by E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, each as incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities of the following entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela), Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), Banco del Tesoro, C.A. Banco Universal (Banco del Tesoro), or Banco Central de Venezuela are authorized:

• MasterCard Incorporated
• Visa Inc.
• American Express Company
• Western Union Company
• MoneyGram International

(b) This general license does not authorize:

(1) Any transactions or activities with Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes Uruguay);

(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a); or

(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or activities with any blocked person other than the blocked persons identified in paragraph (a) of this general license.

(c) Effective March 12, 2020, General License No. 15B, dated August 5, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 15C.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Dated: March 12, 2020.

Andrea M. Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.