Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Belarus
The order expands the national emergency first declared in 2006 over Belarus, broadly widening the pool of individuals and entities subject to U.S. asset freezes and travel bans — reaching Belarusian government officials, economic sector operators, and anyone supporting human rights abuses or electoral fraud.
It is the Biden administration's first major sanctions expansion against Belarus, directly responding to the August 2020 fraudulent presidential election, the regime's crackdown on political opposition and civil society, and its disruption of international commercial air travel.
What this order does
What it orders
The order expands the scope of the pre-existing Belarus national emergency (EO 13405, 2006) by blocking the U.S.-held property and assets of a newly defined set of persons. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is empowered to designate leaders and senior executives of sanctioned entities, Belarusian government officials and subdivisions, operators in specified economic sectors (defense, security, energy, potash, tobacco, construction, and transportation), and anyone responsible for human rights abuses, electoral fraud, public corruption, or evasion of U.S. sanctions. It also suspends entry into the United States of all noncitizens meeting those criteria, with narrow exceptions for cases where entry serves U.S. interests or law enforcement objectives.
The order prohibits all U.S. persons from transacting with or providing funds, goods, or services to any blocked person. It authorizes Treasury to promulgate implementing rules and regulations and directs all executive departments and agencies to take appropriate steps to carry out the order. It does not create any privately enforceable legal right against the U.S. government.
Who it affects
Belarusian government officials, military and security sector leaders, executives and board members of sanctioned entities, operators in Belarus's energy, potash, tobacco, construction, and transportation sectors, and any person worldwide who materially supports those targets. U.S. banks, businesses, and individuals are prohibited from transacting with designated persons.
Why it matters
U.S. financial institutions must freeze any assets belonging to newly designated Belarusian officials or sector operators and block incoming transactions. Designated individuals are barred from entering the United States. The potash sector designation is economically significant because Belarus is one of the world's largest potash exporters.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
Treasury identifies and designates targets in consultation with State, with no prior notice required for listings. Once designated, a person's U.S.-held property is immediately frozen and entry into the U.S. is suspended. State and DHS write separate implementing procedures for visa and entry enforcement. Treasury may issue licenses to authorize otherwise-prohibited transactions case by case and may redelegate its functions within the department. All executive agencies must take appropriate steps to implement within their existing authority.
Actions and deadlines
- Promulgate rules and regulations to implement blocking and sanctions designations under the order
- Establish procedures for implementing visa-related restrictions on designated noncitizens
- Establish procedures for implementing entry restrictions on designated noncitizens