U.S. Commerce Department Adds Nine Persons Associated with Missile Proliferator to Entity List

WASHINGTON – As part of a series of measures announced by the Obama Administration today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the addition of eight Chinese companies and one Chinese individual to its Entity List for their roles in supplying Iran’s ballistic missile program through the Chinese proliferator Li Fangwei (a.k.a. Karl Lee).

"These additions to the Entity List send a message that we will not tolerate proliferation networks and will use every means available to shut them down," said Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L. Hirschhorn in announcing the action.

The Entity List designations mean that the U.S. government has determined the listed persons to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The designation imposes a license requirement for the export, reexport or in-country transfer of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to listed persons. Here, the license review policy for all but one of the listed persons will be a presumption of denial.

Today’s Commerce Department action is being taken in coordination with other U.S. agencies taking action against Li Fangwei. The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against Li Fangwei on charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud and the U.S. Department of State offered a reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Li Fangwei. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added eight of Li Fangwei’s front companies to its List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

The nine persons added to the Entity List today include the following: Beijing Aeronautical Manufacturing Technology Research Institute, Chengdu Latest Electronics Technology Company, Dalian Ligong Safety Equipment Company Limited, Fushun Jinly Petrochemical Carbon Company Limited, Liaoyang Carbon Company, Limited, Shanghai Hentong Optics Technology Limited, Weihai New Era Chemical Industrial Company Limited, Xinghe Xingyong Carbon Company Limited, and Zhu Kuibao.