While OFAC does not maintain a specific list of countries with which U.S. persons may not do business, the Sanctions Programs and Country Information page on OFAC's website provides a list of sanctions programs administered by OFAC. OFAC implements, administers, and enforces U.S. economic sanctions that target either a particular jurisdiction (i.e., a country or geographic region) or specified activities (e.g., terrorism or narcotics trafficking) anywhere in the world. Within each sanctions program, OFAC may implement various types of sanctions based on different foreign policy and national security goals. Most programs include sanctions blocking the property of specific individuals or entities, while some of the most comprehensive programs broadly prohibit transactions or dealings involving an entire jurisdiction. Each sanctions program is unique, and sanctions programs may change frequently. For up-to-date information on an OFAC sanctions program, including applicable exemptions and authorizations, you always should carefully review the relevant OFAC implementing regulations and the Sanctions Programs and Country Information page on OFAC's website.
Broad jurisdiction-based sanctions: Several OFAC sanctions programs apply broad jurisdiction-based sanctions that generally prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in most transactions or dealings involving that particular jurisdiction, such as exporting or importing goods, services, or technology to or from that jurisdiction. As of this FAQ's publication (please see "date updated" at the bottom of this text), jurisdictions subject to such broad sanctions (at times referred to as comprehensive sanctions) include:
- Cuba;
- Iran;
- North Korea;
- The Crimea region of Ukraine; and
- The so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine.
Additionally, although the Russian Federation is not subject to the same degree of jurisdiction-based prohibitions, OFAC sanctions prohibit certain categories of transactions with Russia, including the export and import of certain goods and services to or from Russia. (See OFAC's Russia-related sanctions programs for more detail.)
Government blocking sanctions: Some OFAC sanctions programs apply government blocking sanctions, which require the blocking of all property and interests in property of a particular foreign government or regime that are or come within U.S. jurisdiction. Each government subject to these sanctions is defined within the relevant authorities, but generally, the definition of the blocked government includes any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality (including any entity owned or controlled directly or indirectly by any of the foregoing). As of this FAQ's publication (please see "date updated" at the bottom of this text), foreign governments subject to such government blocking sanctions include:
Aside from programs that employ these broad sanctions, many OFAC sanctions programs that relate to a particular jurisdiction employ more limited sanctions prohibitions and do not generally prohibit activity with the jurisdiction nor block the jurisdiction's government (e.g., OFAC's Nicaragua-related Sanctions program does not generally prohibit transactions involving Nicaragua, and similarly, OFAC's Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)-Related Sanctions program targets, in part, persons threatening the peace, security, or stability of the DRC and the surrounding region). Note that programs such as these may include sanctions against certain government officials or entities without blocking the entire government of the subject jurisdiction. Most OFAC sanctions programs impose sanctions, such as blocking sanctions, on targeted persons (i.e., individuals and entities). For example, persons appearing on OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) are blocked pursuant to OFAC regulations and other authorities. When such list-based blocking sanctions apply, generally U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving blocked persons wherever such blocked persons are located, and all property of blocked persons within U.S. jurisdiction (including within the possession or control of U.S. persons, wherever located) must also be blocked. Aside from blocking sanctions, OFAC may impose non-blocking prohibitions on targeted persons, which may appear on other sanctions lists maintained by OFAC (referred to as Non-SDN Lists). Note that not all sanctioned persons are located in sanctioned jurisdictions; sanctioned persons can be located anywhere in the world.
For more information on OFAC's sanctions lists, see OFAC's Sanctions List Service tool, the OFAC Basics video series, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Basic Information on OFAC and Sanctions, Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) and the SDN List, and How to Search OFAC's Sanctions Lists.