Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (“DSIO”)

CFTC Further Extends Certain No-Action Relief to Market Participants in Response to COVID-19

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On September 11, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the Division of Swap Dealer Intermediary Oversight (DSIO) and the Division of Market Oversight (DMO) are further extending certain elements of the temporary no-action relief issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire on September 30. The extended relief expires January 15. Such relief includes relief for affected firms from CFTC regulations related to voice trading and other telephonic communications, as well as time-stamping requirements when located in remote, socially-distanced locations. No-action relief will also be extended for SEFs and DCMs from certain CFTC regulations regarding audit trails, recording of oral communications, and related requirements as a result of the displacement of trading personnel from their normal business sites. Release.

CFTC Staff Issues No-Action Relief from Introducing Broker and Commodity Trading Advisor Registration to Persons Located Outside the United States Engaged in Activities on behalf of Customers that are International Financial Institutions

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On June 4, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (“CFTC”) Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (“DSIO”) issued a No-Action Letter stating that it will not recommend that the CFTC take action for failure to register as an introducing broker or commodity trading advisor against persons located outside the United States that facilitate swap transactions for International Financial Institutions (“IFIs”) that have offices in the United States.

The DSIO took the position that the relief is appropriate in light of the unique attributes and status of IFIs, and in consideration of international comity. In addition, the relief granted is consistent with the CFTC’s prior treatment of IFIs for purposes of foreign futures and options transactions, the swap dealer definition, and mandatory clearing.

DSIO has defined IFIs, for purposes of the no-action letter, in accordance with prior CFTC policy to be the following institutions and organizations: International Monetary Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Finance Corp., Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, African Development Bank, African Development Fund, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Bank for Economic Cooperation and Development in the Middle East and North Africa, Inter-American Investment Corp., Council of Europe Development Bank, Nordic Investment Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corp. and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency are parts of the World Bank Group).