United States embargoes

Countries sanctioned in some form by the US

As of 2014, 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^[1]
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.^[2]

Implementing agencies

U.S. Customs and Border Protection - United States Department of Homeland Security (border crossings)
Office of Foreign Assets Control - United States Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Industry and Security - United States Department of Commerce (Export Administration Regulations, EAR)
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls - United States Department of State (International Traffic in Arms Regulations, ITAR)
United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
United States Department of Energy (nuclear technology)

Authorizing laws

Several laws delegate embargo power to the President:

Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977
Export Administration Act of 1979

Several laws specifically prohibit trade with certain countries..

Cuba Assets Control Regulations of 1963
Cuban Democracy Act of 1992
Helms–Burton Act of 1996 (Cuba)
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (Cuba)
Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996
Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2006
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010

Targeted parties

As of October 2014, the United States has sanctions against:^[3]

Countries

Country	Year introduced	Article	Summary
Cuba	1962	United States embargo against Cuba	A very long running series of sanctions that restrict almost all trade and travel between the two countries dating from Cold War confrontations in the late 1950s and 1960s after the revolution led by Fidel Castro. Listed as state sponsor of terrorism. In December 2014, president Obama announced the re-opening of official diplomatic ties and a review of this status. As of April 15, 2015, president Barack Obama has announced that the embargo on Cuba has almost been eradicated.
Iran	1979	U.S. sanctions against Iran	Near total economic embargo on all economic activities, including a ban on all Iranian imports, sanctions on Iranian financial institutions as well as restriction on the sale of aircraft and repair parts as well as arms embargoes. This policy began in 1979 as a response to the Iranian Revolution, but has been rapidly expanded over recent years due to the Iranian Nuclear Program On May 30, 2013, OFAC issued Iranian General License D, authorizing the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in Iran of "certain services, software, and hardware incident to personal communications". General License D enumerates certain categories allowed to be exported to Iran. For scope and further details, see General License D and the Annex to General License D, available from OFAC's Iran Sanctions Resource Center at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/pages/iran.aspx. Listed as state sponsor of terrorism.
North Korea	1950	North Korea–United States relations	Severe sanctions justified by accusations of human rights abuses by North Korea and the North Korean Nuclear Program. North Korea and the US have no diplomatic relations.
Sudan	2002	Sudan–United States relations	Sanctions due to criticism of Sudan's human Rights record as well as Sudanese support for the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait and accusations that Sudan has harbored Islamic Extremists has led to a series of economic sanctions. Listed as state sponsor of terrorism.
Syria	1986	Syria–United States relations	Reasons for sanctions include Syria's poor human rights record, the present Civil War, and being listed as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Burma	1997	Burma–United States relations	Determined that the Government of Burma (then ruled by a military junta) had committed large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma and declared a national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of that government. Several subsequent Executive orders have been issued to modify the scope of and take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in E.O. 13047. In May 2012, the President and the Secretary of State announced that the United States would begin easing certain financial and investment sanctions on Burma in response to the historic reforms taking place there. Since July 2012, the U.S. Government has taken various actions in response to the reforms in Burma.

Persons

Country	Description
Belarus	Certain persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Belarus (including President Alexander Lukashenko and other officials)
Ivory Coast	Certain persons contributing to the conflict in Ivory Coast
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Certain persons contributing to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Iraq	Specific individuals and entities associated with the former Saddam Hussein regime, as well as parties determined to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing an act of violence that threatens the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people
Lebanon	Persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions
Liberia	The former Charles Taylor administration in Liberia; prohibits importation of any round log or timber product originating in Liberia
Russia	Persons responsible for the detention, abuse, and death of Sergei Magnitsky and other gross violations of human rights in Russia (see Magnitsky Act)
Somalia	Certain persons contributing to the conflict in Somalia
Former Yugoslavia • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Croatia • Kosovo • Montenegro • Serbia • Slovenia • Macedonia	Persons who threaten international stabilisation in the Western Balkans and some states of the former Yugoslavia
Yemen	Persons threatening the peace, security, or stability of Yemen
Zimbabwe	Persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Zimbabwe, including a number of Government Officials
Ukraine Russia ( Crimea)	Persons undermining the peace, security, stability, territorial integrity and the democratic processes and institutions of Ukraine. Also persons administering areas of Ukraine without central government consent, also a number of senior Russian Officials close to President Putin.
Central African Republic	Persons contributing to the conflict in the Central African Republic
South Sudan	Persons contributing to the conflict in South Sudan and those who have committed human rights abuses
/ Libya	Persons associated with the Gaddafi Regime
Venezuela	Government officials contributing to the 2014–15 Venezuelan protests and those who have committed human rights violations