OFAC Issues General License 14 Under Belarus Sanctions
The U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published General License 14 (GL 14) under the Belarus Sanctions Regulations. The license was previously available on OFAC's website and is now formally documented in the Federal Register. Shippers and exporters conducting trade involving Belarus or Belarusian entities must review this GL to understand permitted activities and compliance requirements under current sanctions.
Photo: Mathias Reding / PexelsOFAC Publishes Belarus Sanctions General License 14
On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published General License 14 (GL 14) under the Belarus Sanctions Regulations in the Federal Register. According to the notice, "GL 14 was previously made available on OFAC's website." This formal publication confirms the license and makes its terms part of the official regulatory record.
Who Is Affected
Any U.S. person, foreign entity operating in the United States, or shipper moving goods to, from, or through Belarus must comply with Belarus Sanctions Regulations. OFAC general licenses authorize specific transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under comprehensive sanctions. GL 14 defines which activities involving Belarus are permissible without requiring individual licenses from OFAC.
What Shippers Need to Know
General licenses are issued to facilitate certain transactions in the national interest while maintaining sanctions policy. Entities engaged in trade with Belarus—whether exporting goods, importing Belarusian products, or providing services—must verify that their intended activity falls within the scope of GL 14 before proceeding. Failure to obtain appropriate authorization or comply with license terms exposes shippers, forwarders, and exporters to civil and criminal penalties.
This publication in the Federal Register provides the authoritative text of GL 14 and serves as official notice to all parties subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
What this means for shippers
If you ship to, from, or through Belarus, consult GL 14 immediately to confirm your transaction is authorized. Non-compliance with Belarus sanctions carries severe penalties—civil fines up to $20,000 per violation and criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 20 years imprisonment. Review OFAC's General License 14 and the Belarus Sanctions Regulations now, and screen all Belarus-related parties against OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list before booking shipments. /sanctions-screen
