In a coordinated effort, on March 2, 2022, the White House announced another round of broad trade controls and sanctions against Russia and now Belarus in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

The White House indicated these actions are intended to “hold Belarus accountable for enabling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” continue to weaken the Russian defense sector and, notably, degrade Russia’s oil refining capability. The US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) was first out the door with export controls on Belarus that mirror new export controls on Russia, as well as an expansion of certain end user and end use controls applicable to Belarus, and a reduction on the available encryption license exceptions to both countries.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the US Department of State issued a large number of new blocking actions against individuals and entities. OFAC also issued new Russia General Licenses and FAQs.