On January 6, 2026, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) again extended Russia-related General License (GL) 13 by issuing a revised GL 13P, “Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024,” which states that U.S. persons are authorized to pay taxes, fees, or import duties
Sanctions
Federal Government Issues Tri-Seal Advisory on Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria
On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, issued a Tri-Seal Advisory on sanctions and export controls relief for Syria.
The advisory provides that the United States no longer imposes comprehensive sanctions on Syria and that the…
BIS Expands Entity List End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Listed Entities
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued an Interim Final Rule that expands the export control restrictions of its Entity List to cover any affiliates that are at least 50% owned by one (or more) entities on the Entity List or the Military End-User (MEU) List. Previously…
OFAC Removes the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (codified at 31 C.F.R. Part 542)
On August 26, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a final rule in the Federal Register announcing it has removed the Syrian Sanctions Regulations and terminated the national emergency on which the regulations were based from the Code of Federal Regulations. Those regulations, codified at 31 C.F.R. Part…
FinCEN Issues Landmark Orders Sanctioning Foreign Banks for Alleged Opioid-Related Money Laundering
For the first time, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) invoked the Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the Fend OFF Fentanyl Act on June 25, 2025, to issue three separate orders that each designate a Mexico-based financial institution as a “primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking.” The three…
President Trump Announces Revocation of Syria Sanctions and Waiver of Other Sanctions and Export Controls
On June 30, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) that removes sanctions on Syria, provides for the issuance of waivers that will permit the relaxation of export controls and other restrictions on Syria, and otherwise seeks to support “the positive actions” taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The…
OFAC Amends Russia General License 55 Relating to the Sakhalin-2 Oil and Gas Project
On June 18, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License (GL) 55D, “Authorizing Certain Services Related to Sakhalin-2.” This general license authorizes certain services that would otherwise be prohibited under OFAC’s Russia sanctions program related to Sakhalin-2 involving the maritime transport of crude oil originating from…
Treasury Relaxes U.S. Economic Sanctions on Syria
On May 23, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) No. 25 relaxing sanctions against the Government of Syria and twenty-eight (28) previously blocked Syrian entities and persons. GL 25 authorizes transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under the U.S. economic sanctions on Syria, including new investment…
OFAC Extends Winding Down Deadline of Venezuela General License 41
On March 24, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela General License (GL) 41B extending the expiration date of Venezuela GL 41, which authorized certain transactions related to Chevron Corporation’s joint ventures in Venezuela. Previously, under GL 41A issued earlier this month, all transactions “ordinarily incident and…
OFAC Once Again Extends Venezuela General License Delaying PdVSA 2020 8.5% Bond-Related Authorizations
On March 6, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License (GL) 5R, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. 2020 8.5 Percent Bond on or After July 3, 2025,” which continues to delay U.S. persons’ ability to enforce bondholder rights to the CITGO…
