Shipowners’ Club reports that there has been a move by the US to relax sanctions against Sudan. Recent talks between the US and Sudan focused on a range of security and humanitarian issues. As a result of Sudan’s positive actions, President Obama issued an Executive Order on January 13th 2017 to lift sanctions against Sudan as of July 12th 2017.
On January 17th 2017 the US Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) issued a general licence authorising transactions with Sudan, largely enabling US persons to engage in transactions connected with the country.
US persons are now free to import and export goods to and from Sudan, and US banks can now process transactions connected with Sudan. Shipowners’ Club pointed out that that the lifting of sanctions was a two-stage process. “The sanctions will only be permanently lifted if Sudan continues to make improvements in the areas highlighted”, th Club said.
In addition, Darfur-related sanctions remain in place and some entities still remain on the SDN list. Other sanctions regimes may also apply, depending on the circumstances of the trade. https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/sudan_fact_sheet.pdf