Canada Imposes Unilateral Economic Sanctions Against Nicaraguan Officials
Source: Canada US
Link: Canada Imposes Unilateral Economic Sanctions Against Nicaraguan Officials
On June 21, 2019, the Government of Canada announced that it was implementing/imposing economic sanctions against nine Nicaraguan officials in response to ongoing gross and systematic human rights violations by the Government of Nicaragua. The economic sanctions and trade restrictions were imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act. Similar sanctions were imposed by the United States.
On June 21, 2019, the Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. The economic sanctions include asset freezes and a prohibition of dealing with the following nine Nicaraguan officials:
- Gustavo Eduardo PORRAS Cortes
- Sonia CASTRO Gonzalez
- Orlando Jose CASTILLO Castillo
- Oscar Salvador MOJICA Obregon
- Rosario María MURILLO Zambrana
- Fidel Antonio MORENO Briones
- Francisco Javier DIAZ Madriz
- Nestor MONCADA Lau
- Laureano Facundo ORTEGA Murillo
These individuals hold senior positions and include the President of the National Assembly, the ministers of health and transportation, and the head of Nicargua’s telecommunications industry.
Before June 21, 2019, Canada had not imposed economic sanctions against Nicaragua. As a result, it is possible that activities that were legal on June 20, 2019 are now illegal. Canadian companies and individuals with dealings in Nicaragua should review their activities to determine if the activities are now prohibited. If a company or person has any concerns, they should seek a legal opinion or a ministerial authorization. Canadian companies and persons should not ignore these new prohibitions.
Subject to some exceptions, the new prohibitions include the following:
1. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada is prohibited in dealing in any property, wherever situated, that is owned, held or controlled by a listed person or by a person acting on behalf of a listed person;
2. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada is prohibited in entering into or facilitating any transaction related to a dealing in any property, wherever situated, that is owned, held or controlled by a listed person or by a person acting on behalf of a listed person;
3. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada is prohibited in providing any financial or related services in respect of a dealing in any property, wherever situated, that is owned, held or controlled by a listed person or by a person acting on behalf of a listed person;
4. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada is prohibited in making available any goods, wherever situated, to a listed person or to a person acting on behalf of a listed person.
5. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada is prohibited in providing any financial or related services to or for the benefit of a listed person.
6. Any person in Canada or any Canadian outside Canada shall not knowingly do anything that causes, facilitates or assists in, or is intended to cause, facilitate or assist in, any activity prohibited.
The Special Economic Measures (Nicaragua) Regulations also impose a positive obligation to report activities with the listed individuals. Section 7(1) of the regulations require every person in Canada (including financial institutions) and every Canadian outside Canada to disclose without delay to the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or to the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service:
(a) the existence of property in their possession or control that they have reason to believe is owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of a listed person; and
(b) any information about a transaction or proposed transaction in respect of property referred to in paragraph (a).
For more information about compliance with Canada’s economic sanctions against Nicaragua, please contact Cyndee Todgham Cherniak at 416-307-4168 or cyndee@lexsage.com. For more information, please read other articles posted on the LexSage website.