SHIPPERS SETTLE ANTI-BOYCOTT CHARGES WITH U.S. CUSTOMS

SHIPPERS SETTLE ANTI-BOYCOTT CHARGES WITH U.S. CUSTOMS    The U.S. Commerce Department has recently fined several shippers for alleged violations of the country’s anti-boycott rules.
   Best Power Technology Ltd., a U.S.-owned power supply manufacturer operating in the United Kingdom, has agreed to pay a $4,000 civil penalty for violating the anti-boycott provisions in the Export Administration Regulations.
   In two transactions to Jordan in 1993-94, Sola (U.K.) Ltd. (now Best Power), provided information regarding another company’s business relationship with or in Israel, by certifying that “the goods were not of Israeli origin, did not contain Israeli materials, and were not being exported from Israel.”
   Indianapolis-based Design Direction, a display case and packaging company, agreed to pay a $3,000 civil penalty to settle two similarly alleged violations of anti-boycott provisions. The transactions involved sales to the United Arab Emirates in 1995.
   Itochu Project Management Corp., a Houston-based marketing agent, also agreed to pay a $4,000 civil penalty for anti-boycott violations involving a sale to Syria in 1994.
   The anti-boycott provisions of the Export Administration Act and Regulations prohibit U.S. companies from complying with certain aspects of unsanctioned foreign boycotts. These cases are investigated by Commerce’s Office of Anti-boycott Compliance.