Sudan Sanctions Changed To Allow Most Trade

January 17, 2017 – On January 13, 2017, President Obama ordered sweeping changes to the U.S. Sudan sanctions program. Specifically, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") issued a new general license under the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations ("SSR") authorizing all transactions otherwise prohibited by the sanctions (the "2017 Sudan Rule"), and thereby effectively ending the almost 20-year old U.S. embargo against Sudan. President Obama cited Sudan's reduction in offensive military activity, steps to improve humanitarian access throughout Sudan, and cooperation with the United States to address terrorism as the key elements leading to the changes. In a related move, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS") modified its license review policy creating a presumption of approval for certain civil transportation uses in Sudan.