The United States has announced plans to tighten export restrictions on Sudan and revoke the trade privileges granted after the country’s removal from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism in 2021. The move follows U.S. allegations that the Port Sudan-based government used chemical weapons.
The U.S. Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), has issued a final regulatory rule implementing sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, based on an earlier determination by the U.S. Department of State that the Sudanese government used chemical or biological weapons.
Under the new measures, Sudan will be reclassified from Country Group B to Country Group D:3 under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. This change removes the export licensing privileges Sudan had enjoyed for U.S.-controlled goods and technologies.
Sudan regained these benefits after being removed from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism in January 2021 during the transitional government led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, allowing for more flexible treatment of export license applications.
According to the new regulation, most applications for the export, re-export, or transfer of U.S.-origin goods and technologies to Sudan will now be subject to a “presumption of denial” policy. This means export licenses will generally be refused unless exceptional circumstances justify approval.
The decision is expected to significantly affect Sudan’s ability to obtain advanced U.S. technologies and equipment, including industrial machinery, aircraft spare parts, and telecommunications equipment subject to U.S. export controls, with a substantially higher likelihood that license applications will be denied.
The measure forms part of a broader package of sanctions announced by Washington following its accusation that the Sudanese government used chemical weapons, paving the way for additional U.S. economic and trade restrictions in the coming period.
