The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a fact sheet[1] outlining all of the various licenses, protocols and general provisions that provide for the export and reexport of medicine, food and other items that meet basic human needs to U.S.-sanctioned countries. The fact sheet clarifies and consolidates the many exemptions to the U.S. sanctions regimes against Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Ukraine/Russia-related entities.
“The sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) generally allow for legitimate humanitarian-related trade, assistance, or activity under existing laws and regulations,” the fact sheet reads. “OFAC encourages those interested in providing such assistance during the COVID-19 crisis to avail themselves of longstanding exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations pertaining to humanitarian assistance and trade available in many U.S. sanctions programs.”