Who enforces embargoes?
Embargoes are enforced by The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries, terrorism sponsoring organizations and international narcotics traffickers. Granted authority by national emergency powers, specific legislation, and the President, OFAC imposes controls on foreign transactions and immobilizes foreign assets that are contained in U.S. jurisdiction. International mandates including the United Nations generally apply the sanctions, which are multilateral in scope, and are monitored with close cooperation from allied governments.
