Press reports around the globe have been publishing articles about potential sanctions or lifting of sanctions on various countries. Though there has been a lot of sanctions talk these days, as of today there have been few actual changes. As of January 1, 2004, the following is the status of sanctions of key countries listed in reports.

Syria

President Bush recently signed into law legislation that allows the imposition of sanctions (embargo) against Syria. The legislation essentially allows the President to impose an embargo at his discretion should Syria fail to meet certain benchmarks relating to Syrian troops in Lebanon and the Middle East peace process. The President has not imposed these sanctions, so as of this moment, Syrian controls remain as they have been, with non-EAR99 items require export and reexport licenses.

Libya

The US Libya embargo remains in full effect. After the Lockerbie settlement, in which Libya agreed to compensate families of the victims of the aircraft bombings, the UN lifted multilateral sanctions on Libya. However, the US maintained their unilateral sanctions on Libya, with all export from the US requiring licensing from Treasury and all reexports requiring licenses under the Export Administration Regulations. The US maintained unilateral sanctions out of concern for ongoing weapons proliferation programs.

Libya strong man Muammar Qadaffi recently has taken dramatic steps to end these weapons programs and to open the country up to inspectors in an attempt to have the US sanctions lifted. The US is likely to remain cautious in lifting sanctions. Though continued progress may result in an eventual lifting of the embargo, there does not appear to be any immediate movement on the US side to lift sanctions.

Iran

In a Treasury Press release issued on December 31, 2003 (see http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js1076.htm), the Office of Foreign Assets Controls eased sanctions on Iran for transactions related to humanitarian relief for the earthquake victims in Bam. Contrary to some press reports which indicate a broader easing of sanctions, the changes are actually very limited in scope. They authorize cash donations to NGO’s for the earthquake victims, authorize humanitarian relief activities, and fast track licensing of NGO’s authorizing relief activity in Iran. There is no other movement to lift the embargo on Iran.