Companies assessed U.S. antiboycott fines

   The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said three companies agreed to pay a total of $35,200 in civil penalties to settle allegations that each violated the Export Administration Regulations’ antiboycott provisions. 
   Antiboycott regulations prohibit U.S. persons from taking certain actions with intent to comply with or support unsanctioned foreign boycotts, including providing information about business relationships with or in a boycotted country or with blacklisted persons.
   Weiss-Rohlig USA LLC, located in Cranford, N.J., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $8,000 to settle two allegations that it violated the antiboycott rules. The BIS Office of Antiboycott Compliance alleged that during 2006, in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Kuwait, the freight forwarder on one occasion furnished prohibited information in a statement regarding the blacklist status of the carrying vessel, a violation of the antiboycott provisions and failed to report it to the Commerce Department.
   JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. in Los Angeles has also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $ 19,200 to settle three allegations that it violated the antiboycott regulations. In 2006, in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Lebanon and Kuwait, JAS on three occasions provided prohibited information in statements certifying that the goods were neither of Israeli origin nor contained Israeli materials and in a statement regarding the blacklist status of the insurance company.
   In addition, Rexnord Industries LLC, located in Milwaukee, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $8,000 to settle five allegations that it violated the antiboycott rules. The Office of Antiboycott Compliance alleged that from 2007 to 2009, in connection with transactions involving the sale and/or transfer of goods or services (including information) from the United States to Qatar, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Rexnord, on one occasion, provided information in a statement certifying that the goods were neither of Israeli origin nor contained Israeli materials and, on four occasions, failed to report the request to the Commerce Department. BIS said Rexnord voluntarily disclosed the transactions.