In two Federal Register Notices (FRN) published on January 17, 2017 the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced certain amendments and revisions to the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations.

The OFAC amendment now authorizes, “all prohibited transactions, including transactions involving property in which the Government of Sudan has an interest.” In addition, property of the Government of Sudan has been unblocked. 

The BIS policy revision will now adopt a general review policy of approval, rather than denial in response to applications for licenses “to export or reexport to Sudan certain items that are intended to ensure the safety of civil aviation or the safe operation of fixed-wing, commercial passenger aircraft” and for “certain items for use to inspect, design, construct, operate, improve, maintain, repair, overhaul or refurbish railroads in Sudan.”.  These revisions will neither add any new license requirements nor remove any that currently exist.

These amendments were issued due to continuing U.S.-Sudan bilateral engagement and promising improvement in both humanitarian and internal efforts by Sudan. These amendments became effective on January 17, 2017.

The notices can be accessed at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/17/2017-00844/sudanese-sanctions-regulations

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/17/2017-00836/revisions-to-sudan-licensing-policy