Which countries have trade regulations and sanctions programs in place?

The Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) broadly regulates and restricts transactions with embargoed and sanctioned countries including certain academic collaborations and exchange of research materials and equipment.

The most comprehensive controls apply to: Cuba; Iran; North Korea; Syria; and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of the Ukraine.

The US government has also imposed new economic sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus. These sanctions are evolving.

Travel to these countries, as well as research-related activity and academic collaborations with these countries (whether funded or unfunded), remains tightly regulated and generally requires a Treasury Department (“OFAC”) export license. 

Because these U.S. export control/OFAC regulations are complex and violations may result in severe financial penalties to the traveler and to the University, those at Case Western Reserve University must consult with the CWRU Compliance and Privacy Office, which leads the university in export control compliance, under the following circumstances:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill maintains an open approach to all individuals and countries willing and able to collaborate within the confines of U.S. federal sanctions and embargoes. The U.S. federal government maintains what are known as “comprehensive sanctions” that have the effect of prohibiting U.S. persons from participating in most transactions, collaborations and activities with certain countries. With few exceptions, the U.S. will bar most transactions, collaborations or activities involving a comprehensively sanctioned country or individuals and entities from those countries. The following list of countries are those that currently have comprehensive sanctions or equivalent sanctions placed against them:

It should be noted that although these specific countries are the only countries that currently have comprehensive sanctions placed upon them, the list can grow or shrink based on actions taken by the U.S. federal government. If you plan on having any interaction with a comprehensively sanctioned country, please contact the Export Compliance Office.

Additionally, although certain countries are not designated as comprehensively sanctioned, certain actions taken by the U.S. federal government can result in similar restrictions placed on countries or individuals and entities from other countries. These restrictions are routinely identified by the Export Compliance Office through restricted party screenings (RPS). Please refer to our webpage on Restricted Parties and Visual Compliance for further information.

Travelers should also be aware of the list of countries that have been placed under an embargo or are sanctioned by the U.S. Government.  Travel to these countries (as well as certain travel-related activities) may have restrictions or require a license.

Example:  You want to travel to an embargoed or sanctioned country to attend a conference.  Depending on which country it is, there may or may not be a restriction on your travel.  Additionally, your attendance at the conference itself may require a license, as would certain items you intend to bring in your luggage or carry-on baggage and certain financial transactions or exchanges you may have in country.  Always confer with the Office of Export Controls before traveling to an embargoed or sanctioned country.

Countries under comprehensive embargo.  Restrictions exist on most imports/exports and financial transactions:

• Cuba*
• Iran
• North Korea**
• Syria

*Travel to Cuba is restricted to only certain academic activities which may be pursued under a US government license.  Contact Export Controls for more information about travel to Cuba prior to making any travel-related arrangements (hotel accommodations, airfare, etc.).

**Travel to North Korea is highly restricted.  No exemptions for academic activities currently.

Countries under targeted sanctions programs; limited restrictions on certain imports, exports, financial transactions/dealings exist:

• Belarus
• Congo, Democratic Republic of
• Iraq
• Libya
• Nicaragua
• Russia/Ukraine
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Venezuela
• Zimbabwe

Countries to which the transfer of military or space technology is prohibited:

For a list of the export controls that apply to the above listed countries, please refer to the Countries of Concern page on the Export Controls web site.

Duke also maintains a Restricted Regions List of locations that pose high risk.  The Duke Restricted Regions List is updated whenever conditions warrant by the Provost, who is advised by the Global Travel Advisory Committee (GTAC).

What are the 5 sanctioned countries?

Which two countries are subject to broad based sanctions?

What countries have sanctions against the United States?

What countries have trade sanctions?