Prohibiting the Importation of Rough Diamonds From Sierra Leone
Prohibits Importation of Rough Diamonds from Sierra Leone into United States
What it does
Agencies must block all rough diamond imports from Sierra Leone unless certified by Sierra Leone's Certificate of Origin.
Real-world impact
- Stops most rough diamond shipments from Sierra Leone into the United States.
- Requires importers to show Sierra Leone Certificate of Origin to customs.
- Gives the Treasury Department and customs officials authority to block and investigate evasion.
Topics
Summary
This order bans the direct or indirect importation of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone into the United States, except those controlled through Sierra Leone's Certificate of Origin regime. It also forbids transactions that try to evade the ban.
The rule affects U.S. importers, diamond traders, customs officials, and other government agencies tasked with enforcement. It aims to prevent diamond sales from funding armed groups in Sierra Leone and to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1306 while protecting the legitimate diamond trade.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”