February 13, 2024

White House announces the extension of four sanctions regimes

The United States recently decided to extend four sanctions regimes for an additional year.  On February 7, 2024, the White House announced that President Biden continued Executive Order 14064 related to Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and potential for deepening economic collapse and Executive Order 14014 related to the situation in Burma.  The White House reported that EO 14064 and EO 14014 were extended based on findings that the situations in Afghanistan and Burma continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

In December 2023, the White House announced that it extended EO 13818 concerning serious human right abuse and corruption around the world and EO 14059 related to the global illicit drug trade, for an additional year.  The White House extended EO 13818 based on a determination that the “prevalence and severity of human rights abuse and corruption” outside of the United States continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy and economy.  According to the White House, the extension of EO 14059 was based on findings that the trafficking of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, into the United States continues to cause tens of thousands of American deaths each year as well as countless non-fatal overdoses.  The extension was also reportedly influenced by the widespread distribution of illicit drugs internationally; the rise of extremely potent drugs such as fentanyl; and the growing role of internet-based drug sales.

White House Notice – EO 14064 | White House Notice – EO 14014 | White House Notice – EO 13818 | White House Notice – EO 14059