Frequently Asked Questions

1024. I have a shipment of a certain product(s) listed in Executive Order (E.O.) 14068 en route to the United States that were contracted prior to March 11, 2022. Can I find a new buyer for this shipment, re-direct the shipment to a country other than the United States, or import the product(s) and comply with the import ban?

1024 … Yes. E.O. 14068 prohibits the importation into the United States of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; and non-industrial diamonds of Russian Federation origin. It does not prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions to sell or re-direct shipments… Read more

1022. What does Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, “Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression,” do?

1022 … E.O. 14068 prohibits the following activities: the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin: fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; non-industrial diamonds; and any other products of Russian Federation origin as may be… Read more

1027. For the purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, as amended, “Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression,” and associated determinations, what is meant by the terms “Russian Federation origin,” “fish, seafood, and preparations thereof,” “alcoholic beverages,” “unsorted diamonds,” and “non-industrial diamonds”?

1027 … For the purposes of E.O. 14068 , as amended by E.O. 14114, the Office of Foreign Assets Control anticipates publishing regulations defining these terms to include the following: “Russian Federation origin” – see FAQ 1019 . “fish, seafood, and preparations thereof” – articles defined at… Read more

1028. Does the U.S. dollar-denominated banknote export ban imposed by Executive Order (E.O.) of March 11, 2022, “Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression,” prohibit sending noncommercial, personal remittances denominated in U.S. dollars to the Russia Federation (or to individuals ordinarily resident in the Russia Federation)?

1028 … E.O. of March 11, 2022 prohibits the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of U.S. dollar-denominated banknotes to the Government of the Russian Federation or any person located in the… Read more

1029. How do the prohibitions of Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 and other Russia-related sanctions impact gold-related transactions or persons participating in the gold market?

1029 … Gold-related transactions involving the Russian Federation may be sanctionable under E.O. 14024 or other Russia-related sanctions authorities. For example, E.O. 14024 authorizes sanctions against: Persons determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly… Read more

1215. Why did OFAC issue General License (GL) 26 ("Transactions Authorized Pursuant to the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations") in the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 589 (URSR)?

1215 … GL 26 applies to transactions involving specified persons identified in the Annex to GL 26, who are designated under both the URSR and the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR). The purpose of GL 26 is to ensure that transactions authorized or… Read more

1217. I am a U.S. service provider. Following the January 10, 2025 determinations under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 and E.O. 14071 (the Energy Sector Determination and Petroleum Services Determination, respectively), am I still authorized to provide certain services relating to the maritime transport of Russian crude oil and Russian petroleum products to a non-sanctioned person operating in the energy sector of the Russian economy, so long as the crude oil or petroleum products are purchased at or below the price cap?

1217 … Yes, as long as the provision of services does not involve an entity blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024 and is not otherwise prohibited by OFAC sanctions. The price cap policy does not authorize transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations, 31… Read more

1165. What does the determination “Prohibitions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Diamonds” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068 (the “Diamonds Determination”), prohibit?

1165 … The Diamonds Determination prohibits the importation and entry into the United States of two categories of diamonds, effective on the dates indicated below. Effective March 01, 2024, the Diamonds Determination prohibits the importation of non-industrial diamonds that were mined, extracted,… Read more

1166. What does the determination “Prohibitions Related to Imports of Diamond Jewelry and Unsorted Diamonds of Russian Federation Origin and Diamond Jewelry and Unsorted Diamonds Exported From the Russian Federation” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068 (the “Diamond Jewelry and Unsorted Diamonds Determination”), prohibit?

1166 … The Diamond Jewelry and Unsorted Diamonds Determination prohibits the importation and entry into the United States of diamond jewelry and unsorted diamonds of Russian Federation origin, as well as diamond jewelry and unsorted diamonds that were exported from the Russian Federation. For… Read more

1157. For the purposes of the determination of December 22, 2023 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, as amended by E.O. 14114 of December 22, 2023, (Seafood Determination) what is meant by the terms “salmon,” “cod,” “pollock,” and “crab”?

1157 … For the purposes of the Seafood Determination , OFAC anticipates publishing regulations defining these terms to include articles defined at the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: • “Salmon:” articles defined at HTSUS subheadings 0302.13.0013,… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

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