Export Controlled or Embargoed Countries, Entities and Persons
When considering whether or not a shipment, transfer, transmission, or disclosure will require an export license, we need to consider what is being shipped, where it is going, and to whom it is being exported or disclosed.
The lists on this page deal with "where" and "to whom" items, information, or software is going (see the lists of controlled items, software, and technologies for guidance about what may be sent).
Overview
Certain organizations and individuals are subject to trade sanctions, embargoes, and other restrictions under US law. These restrictions apply to both domestic and foreign transactions. Stanford's Restricted Party Screening tool will permit you to quickly check and document whether a person or an organization is a restricted party. If you intend to ship or transact with any person or organization that appears on a restricted list, immediately contact Stanford's Export Control Officer.
In addition, certain countries are subject to either comprehensive embargoes or targeted sanctions. Comprehensive embargoes prohibit virtually ALL exports/imports and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Targeted sanctions are prohibitions on trade in specified goods, technologies, and services with specific organizations (including foreign governments) and persons.
If you intend to travel on Stanford business to, ship or transact with any country that that is identified on the Comprehensively Embargoed Country lists below, you MUST contact Steve Eisner, (650) 724-7072 for guidance ASAP per Stanford policy. Because of the complex federal sanctions regulations governing these countries, as well as the severe civil and criminal penalties that could be levied for sanctions violations, faculty, staff and students should not attempt to interpret export licensing requirements or license exclusions for travel to or transactions with comprehensively embargoed countries (Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, North Korea and the Crimea Region of the Ukraine) on their own.
If you intend to ship or transact with any other country that is identified on the Targeted Sanctions Country lists below, please use the Stanford Export Controls Decision Tree and conduct a Restricted Party Screen (both available to the right on this page). Given the numerous dual use export controls and Targeted Sanctions on Iraq, you should contact Steve Eisner before engaging in activity with persons or organizations in that country.
Countries
Comprehensively Embargoed Countries
OFAC
Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria
EAR
Crimea Region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria
See Sanctions Program and Country Summaries and the EAR's Part 746 embargoes pages for more specific information.
Targeted Sanctions Countries
OFAC
Libya, Lebanon, Somalia, Belarus, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Liberia, Zimbabwe, Balkans, the Cote D'Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast)
EAR
Iraq
See Sanctions Program and Country Summaries and the EAR's Part 746 embargoes pages for more specific information.
Countries with Restricted Entities on the EAR Entity Chart
China, Canada, Germany, Iran, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lebanon, Singapore, South Korea, Syria, United Arab Emirates the United Kingdom.
ITAR Prohibited Countries
Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, Cuba, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji, Iran, Iraq, Cote d'Ivoire, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Haiti, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Republic of the Sudan (Northern Sudan), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Persons and Organizations
There are a number of important lists that address trade sanctioned persons and organizations:
- The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (Treasury);
- The Foreign Sanctions Evaders List (Treasury);
- The Entity List (Commerce);
- The Denied Persons List (Commerce);
- The Unverified List (Commerce);
- The Nonproliferation Sanctions List (State);
- The AECA Debarred List (State).
Stanford's Restricted Party Screening tool includes each of these lists and should be used to identify U.S. Government sanctioned persons and organizations.
A Note About Anti-Bribery Laws
The U.S., the United Kingdom, and many other countries have strict criminal laws governing interactions with government officials, including customs officials. Under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a person may not offer or pay anything of value (this not only includes cash, but can include gifts, entertainment or other favors) to a foreign government official in order to gain an improper advantage or obtain retain or to further business activities.
Many geographic regions include countries with a high incidence of requests for improper payments to facilitate a transaction. High risk regions include most countries in Africa and the Middle East, a majority of countries in Asia, including China and India, Eastern Europe and Russia. The Transparency International website, which contains country specific information about corruption risks, and Stanford’s anti-bribery policy, are excellent informational resources.
Violations of these laws can result in significant criminal penalties, including fines and potential jail time. Stanford is forbidden under the FCPA from paying a fine on behalf of an employee, so any resulting financial penalty incurred by a Stanford employee in the course of their work is a personal responsibility. Individuals can be held responsible for the actions of a 3rd party, such as a logistics provider or customs broker, retained to assist with shipments or interactions with customs officials.
Enforcement actions in recent years have included many cases where customs officials have requested or received bribes in exchange for agreeing not to inspect, or to release, exported goods that have been held up at ports of entry. If you are traveling and know you will need materials on site when you arrive, to avoid being pressured to make improper payments, you should arrange to ship them ahead using a preferred carrier such as Tigers Global Logistics in Hayward, CA.
If you are a member of the Stanford community and still have questions, Stanford's Export Control Officer can provide immediate assistance.
