President Biden has issued an Executive Order prohibiting the import of the following Russian origin products into the United States:
- Crude oil
- Petroleum
- Petroleum fuels
- Oils, and products of their distillation
- Liquefied natural gas
- Coal and coal products.
Previously contracted goods may be allowed import.
The authorization of imports of these goods is subject to requirements of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) General License No.16. Goods imported from March 8, 2022 through April 22, 2022 must provide specific proof of contracts or written agreements to allow importation, and these must have been made prior to March 8, 2022.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice regarding the import procedures for authorized shipments under OFAC’s General License No.16.
To enter the commerce or gain admission into a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) using General License No. 16, CBP will require proof of purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect. This proof will need to be provided prior to the unlading of the conveyances, with CBP placing holds on both unlading and cargo pending verification of the required information.
CBP removed authorization allowing direct delivery privileges for FTZ admission of these products, instead requiring a CBP Form 214 or its electronic equivalent.
These additional sanctions were imposed due to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.
For more details, please see the U.S. Treasury’s announcement, as well as the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s notice and Frequently Asked Questions.
Specific questions may be directed to OFAC’s hotline at 1-800-540-6322, or email ofac_feedback@treasury.gov.
General questions regarding imports may be directed to your Livingston account manager.