---
title: Department of Commerce Removes UAE from Boycott List
date: 2021-06-14T13:30:37-04:00
author: Import Bot
canonical_url: "https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/trade-and-manufacturing-monitor/department-of-commerce-removes-uae-from-boycott-list"
section: Blog Posts
---
# Department of Commerce Removes UAE from Boycott List

 June 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce [removed the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”)](https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-12125.pdf) from its list of countries boycotting Israel in response to the [formal termination](https://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/united-arab-emirates-new-decree-law-abolishes-law-on-boycott-of-israel/#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20Federal%20Decree,trade%20agreements%20with%20Israeli%20corporations.) of the UAE’s participation in the Arab League boycott of Israel.

Under Commerce’s updated rules, a request for information, action, or agreement from the UAE made after August 16, 2020 is no longer *presumed* to be boycott-related and, consequently, is not prohibited or reportable unless the request is facially boycott-related. For example, if a UAE company requests that a U.S. company provide information on the nationality of its board members, that request is no longer presumed to be boycott-related – the U.S. company may respond to the request and does not need to report the receipt of the request to Commerce. In contrast, if a request from the UAE (or any other country) references ​“blacklisted companies,” ​“Israel boycott list,” ​“non-Israeli goods,” or other phrases indicating a boycott purpose, compliance with that request generally remains prohibited and the request must be reported to the Commerce Department. The updates to Commerce’s rules followed a [similar change](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/08/2021-07244/list-of-countries-requiring-cooperation-with-an-international-boycott) to the Treasury Department’s antiboycott regulations, which reduced reporting obligations related to the UAE for U.S. taxpayers.

While these updates represent a liberalization of U.S. antiboycott rules applicable to the UAE, U.S. companies and taxpayers must remain vigilant for requests that are facially boycott-related from the UAE and other countries, even if the countries do not officially participate in the Arab League boycott of Israel.

Please feel free to contact our [Export Controls & Economic Sanctions](https://www.kelleydrye.com/Our-Practices/International/Export-Controls-and-Economic-Sanctions) team with any questions about compliance with U.S. antiboycott regulations.

 

 

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