US to Suspend Export Restrictions on Certain Defense Shipments to Cyprus

The State Department will temporarily remove export restrictions on nonlethal defense goods and services to Cyprus, the agency said in a temporary final rule released Sept. 25. The move will suspend restrictions for one year on exports, reexports, retransfers and temporary imports of certain defense goods if the end user is the Cyprus government, a “request” is made by or on behalf of the Cyprus government and no “credible” human rights concerns are involved with the shipment. The State Department said it will suspend the restrictions, which includes amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, because Cyprus is cooperating with the U.S. on anti-money laundering revisions and has taken steps to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for servicing. The restrictions will be lifted Oct. 1 and will expire Sept. 30, 2021, unless extended.