On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) jointly released guidance titled The U.S. and UK Economic Sanctions Authorities: A Comparative Overview that provides a comparative analysis of their respective economic sanctions regimes. According to the overview, OFAC and OFSI’s Enhanced Partnership, which began in October 2022, includes regular engagement by the agencies, information-sharing under the OFAC-OFSI Memorandum of Understanding, and joint industry engagement throughout the year. The new guidance compares key aspects of the U.S. and UK sanctions regimes, including similarities and differences relating to sanctions lists, licenses, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. It is intended to help private sector parties who must comply with U.S. and UK sanctions develop a clear and strong understanding of how to do so.
The key comparisons and cooperation goals focus on improving the effectiveness of parallel U.S. and UK sanctions tools, including mechanisms to increase sanctions pressure quickly, lessons from the coordinated response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, typologies and economic impacts of sanctions targets such as the shadow fleet, structured dismantling of sanctions regimes such as Syria, and applying lessons from global sanctions programs such as counternarcotics and illegal migration. The broader cooperation aims to ensure that sanctions deliver maximum impact, minimize unintended consequences, and remain clear and implementable for stakeholders.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release | OFSI Blog | U.S. and UK Economic Sanctions Authorities – A Comparative Overview | OFSI Guidance