Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Financial sanctions and other forms of economic coercion have become policy tools of choice for the US government to deter illegal activity by international actors or to pressure governments into reversing actions that harm US interests. Yet these instruments and their potential pitfalls are often misunderstood. Restrictive economic measures such as financial sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and investment screening can play an important role in advancing certain policy objectives, but they risk being ineffective if misapplied or poorly implemented. Policymakers must also recognize the impact of economic statecraft on the private sector, which bears many of the compliance burdens and operational costs associated with these measures.

Energy Sanctions Dashboard

This dashboard focuses on US sanctions and restrictive measures placed on crude oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela—including the unintended consequences and the lessons learned.

Econographics

Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Lize de Kruijf

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the level of coordination among Western allies in sanctioning Russian entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft, and shows where gaps still remain.

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

Recent analysis

China’s anti-foreign sanctions law: Companies in the crosshairs

Econographics Sep 16, 2025

The Supreme Court’s decision on Trump tariffs will have lasting impact on US economic statecraft

By Stephanie Connor

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, the case will shape US economic policy for years to come.
Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
China’s anti-foreign sanctions law: Companies in the crosshairs

New Atlanticist Mar 28, 2024

The axis of evasion: Behind China’s oil trade with Iran and Russia

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

Beijing has developed a way to import Iranian and Russian oil while bypassing the Western financial system and shipping services.
China Economy & Business
China’s anti-foreign sanctions law: Companies in the crosshairs

Testimony Feb 21, 2025

Kimberly Donovan testifies to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the Axis of Autocracy

By Kimberly Donovan

On February 20, Economic Statecraft Initiative Director Kimberly Donovan testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission at a hearing titled, “An Axis of Autocracy? China’s Relations with Russia, Iran, and North Korea.”
China Economy & Business

Programs

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

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Content

Blog Post

Jun 28, 2021

China’s anti-foreign sanctions law: Companies in the crosshairs

By Hung Tran

On June 10, 2021, China’s National People’s Congress passed the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. This has raised the complexity and risk of doing business globally, especially as sanctions and counter-sanctions are likely to proliferate in the intensifying US-China strategic competition.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jun 28, 2021

Tavakol quoted in MENAFN on Iran’s economic situation under Raisi

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Elections

In the News

Jun 28, 2021

Nasr in Foreign Policy: Why Raisi is the West’s best hope for a deal with Iran

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

UkraineAlert

Jun 27, 2021

Ukraine’s Russia sanctions target Putin’s inner circle

By Anders Åslund

Ukraine’s recently updated sanctions against Russia are the most comprehensive since 2014 and demonstrate that the Ukrainian government understands the value of targeting people close to Vladimir Putin.

Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

BelarusAlert

Jun 22, 2021

Belarus sanctions target dictator’s Russian enablers

By Brian Whitmore

When the US, EU, Canada, and UK announced a new Belarus sanctions this week, one name in particular stood out: Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev.

Belarus Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Report

Jun 11, 2021

When sanctions violate human rights

By Peter Piatetsky and Julian Vasilkoski

Do sanctions violate human rights? Castellum.AI has developed a methodology to determine whether, and how, sanctions from particular countries violate human rights, designating Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey in that order as the biggest violators.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Human Rights

Uncategorized

Jun 1, 2021

Greenwald quoted by CNBC on digital currencies in Russia

By Michael Greenwald

Read the whole article here.

Digital Currencies Financial Regulation

In the News

May 28, 2021

Kroenig and Ashford explore a Western response to Belarus’s act of air piracy

By Atlantic Council

On May 28, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they discussed how the West should respond to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko’s arrest of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, the U.S. role in the […]

Belarus China

In the News

May 27, 2021

Katz quoted in Middle East Eye on Russia desire to see the deterioration of relations between the US and Middle Eastern allies

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fast Thinking

May 25, 2021

FAST THINKING: Europe strikes back at Belarus

By Atlantic Council

Europe has imposed economic sanctions and restrictions on Belarusian planes, while US President Joe Biden has indicated that he will follow suit. What made Europe act with unusual swiftness and boldness?

Belarus Crisis Management
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Experts

Staff

Nitansha Bansal

Associate Director

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Fellow

Ryan Berger

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Cybersecurity

Fellow

Chris Brummer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Fellow

Michael Carpenter

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center Europe Center

Eastern Europe National Security

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Claire Chu

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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