OFAC adds entities to SDN List; new blocked parties for shippers
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has placed one or more persons on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these designated persons are now blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Shippers, freight forwarders, and exporters must screen all transactions and parties against the updated SDN List immediately.
Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels# OFAC Adds Entities to SDN List; New Blocked Parties for Shippers
On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a notice of sanctions action placing one or more persons on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).
"All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them." — OFAC Notice, Federal Register (June 12, 2026)
OFAC designations block all assets and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction and impose a comprehensive transaction prohibition on U.S. persons and entities. This applies to direct transactions, indirect dealings, and any arrangement that would benefit a blocked party. E-commerce merchants, freight forwarders, and exporters who ship goods internationally must verify that neither their customers, suppliers, consignees, nor any intermediary parties appear on the updated SDN List before processing any order or shipment.
The SDN List is the primary sanctions-screening tool for the U.S. government. Any transaction with a blocked party—even unknowingly—can result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment. The list is updated frequently, and entities can be added at any time. OFAC requires that all U.S. persons implement sanctions-screening procedures and maintain documentation of their compliance efforts.
Shippers must cross-reference all shipper names, consignee addresses, consignee names, ultimate consignees, and payment sources against the current SDN List. Many freight forwarders and customs brokers now integrate automated screening into their systems; however, manual verification remains the responsibility of the exporter and all parties in the transaction chain.
What this means for shippers
Immediately download the updated SDN List from OFAC's website and screen every pending and new shipment against all designated parties. Any hit on the SDN List means the transaction must be blocked and reported to OFAC within 10 days. If you ship to international buyers or use intermediary freight forwarders, confirm they perform real-time sanctions screening. Non-compliance carries penalties up to $250,000 per violation and criminal exposure. Use automated screening tools to prevent accidental violations and document all screening records. /sanctions-screen
