A Primer On U.S. Sanctions And Export Controls

The regulatory landscape for U.S. sanctions and export controls is complex and ever shifting. Because we are constantly keeping an eye on this moving target, it can be easy to overlook certain fundamental considerations with respect to these restrictions. For instance, businesses often do not appreciate the distinction between sanctions and export controls, or how these restrictions might apply in different scenarios. Without this basic framework, it can be difficult to understand developments in sanctions and export controls. This article focuses on providing a basic overview of U.S. sanctions and export controls, the distinction between these regimes, and how they apply in various contexts. In our next newsletter publication, we aim to provide a follow-up article discussing the current status of U.S. sanctions and export controls, including a discussion of specific measures implemented in the past year.