United States embargoes

As of 2009^[update], there are several United States embargoes and sanctions in force by the United States against several countries and activities, the most notable of which are against countries the federal government of the United States considers State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Some sanctions imposed by the United States government are:

• No arms-related exports
• Controls over dual-use exports
• Restrictions on economic assistance
• Financial restrictions
  • Requiring the United States to oppose loans by the World Bank and other international financial institutions.
  • Diplomatic immunity waived to allow families of terrorist victims to file for civil damages in U.S. courts.
  • Tax credits for companies and individuals denied for income earned in listed countries.
  • Duty-free goods exemption suspended for imports from those countries.
  • Authority to prohibit a U.S. citizen from engaging in financial transactions with the government on the list without a license from the U.S. government.
  • Prohibition of Defense Department contracts above $100,000 with companies controlled by countries on the list.^[1]

Targeted parties

As of October, 2007, the United States has sanctions against:^[2]

• Countries:
  • Colombia, no drug-related exports, since 1972 (see Colombia-United States relations)
  • Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast, since 1986 (see Côte d'Ivoire – United States relations)
  • Cuba, since 1962 (see United States embargo against Cuba)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, since 1998 (see Democratic Republic of the Congo – United States relations)
  • Iran, since 1979 (see Sanctions against Iran)
  • Libya, since 2011 (see Libya - United States relations)
  • Republic of the Congo (see Republic of the Congo-United States relations)
  • Somalia, since 1990 (supplies arms to the Transitional Federal Government, but no general trade. See Somalia-United States relations)
  • Myanmar, since 1997 (see Burma – United States relations)
  • North Korea, since 1950 (see North Korea – United States relations)
  • Sudan, since 2002 (see Sudan – United States relations)
  • Syria, since 1986 (see Syria – United States relations)

• Persons:
  • President Alexander Lukashenko and other officials in the government of Belarus
  • The Taylor administration in Liberia, which left office in 2003
  • Certain "Persons Who Threaten International Stabilization" in the Former Yugoslavia

There are also list-based sanctions related to terrorism, diamond trading, narcotics, nuclear proliferation, and the sovereignty of Lebanon.

Some countries listed are members of the World Trade Organization, but WTO rules allow trade restrictions for non-economic purposes.

Recent countries which were removed from the list were Iraq (removed 2005) and Libya (removed 2003).

See also

• State Sponsors of Terrorism - placement on the list puts severe restrictions on trade with that nation
• United States steel tariff 2002
• Permanent Normal Trade Relations

References

External links

• U.S. Treasury - Sanctions Program Summaries
• Introduction to Commerce Department Export Controls