OFAC adds entities to Specially Designated Nationals List
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 persons are now blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. This notice applies to any shipper or exporter conducting business with the affected parties.
Photo: Antonio Garcia Prats / Pexels# OFAC Adds Entities to Specially Designated Nationals List
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a notice on April 27, 2026, adding one or more persons to OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). According to the notice, these designations were made after OFAC determined that applicable legal criteria were satisfied.
Who is Affected
Any U.S. person, including exporters, freight forwarders, and e-commerce merchants, is prohibited from engaging in transactions with the newly designated individuals or entities. The notice states:
"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."
This prohibition extends to direct transactions as well as indirect dealings through third parties. Shippers and exporters must conduct due diligence to ensure they are not transacting with SDN List designees.
Compliance Obligations
Businesses involved in international trade must consult OFAC's SDN List to verify that customers, suppliers, and parties to transactions are not designated. The SDN List is maintained and updated regularly by OFAC and is publicly available for screening purposes.
Failure to comply with OFAC sanctions can result in significant civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment for knowing violations.
What this means for shippers
Shippers and freight forwarders must ensure compliance with OFAC designations when processing shipments and arranging international trade. Before finalizing shipments, verify all parties involved—including consignees, consignors, and intermediaries—against the SDN List. For more details on how sanctions affect your shipping operations and landed cost calculations, visit /sanctions.
