The U.S. Department of Commerce published a Final Rule in today’s Federal Register officially moving Venezuela from country Group B which provides favorable treatment for certain exports of national security concern to Group D:1  Countries of National Security concern. This new announcement also places Venezuela into Country Groups D:2-4 which contains countries of concern for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and missile technology. The movement to Group D negates the potential to use certain license exceptions found in Part 740 and subjects Venezuela to the  stricter “case-by-case” licensing requirements on exports to countries of National Security Concern delineated in Part 742.4 of the EAR. The rule is effective as of May 24th, 2019.