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

Fishman in War on the Rocks: Make Russia sanctions effective again

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
Fishman in War on the Rocks: Make Russia sanctions effective again

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
Fishman in War on the Rocks: Make Russia sanctions effective again

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

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Fishman in War on the Rocks: Make Russia sanctions effective again

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

AfricaSource

Oct 19, 2020

Sudan is removed from the terror list. Now what?

By Cameron Hudson

After twenty-seven years on the US State Sponsor of Terrorism list, President Trump today announced, via Twitter, that Sudan’s terror designation was at long last being removed. While many details of the deal struck between the Trump Administration and the transitional authorities in Sudan have yet to emerge, the announcement by itself should be welcomed as a major achievement for both Washington and Khartoum.

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Oct 19, 2020

Clete Willems Quoted in Politico on the Efforts of the US and EU to Fix the WTO

By Clete R. Willems

Read the full article here.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Oct 18, 2020

Deputy Director Julia Friedlander and Ambassador Fried Quoted in New York Times on Trump’s Sanctions

By Julia Friedlander, Daniel Fried

Read the full article here.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion United States and Canada

In the News

Oct 13, 2020

Slavin quoted in The New York Times on America’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Iran
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

IranSource

Oct 13, 2020

New sanctions on Iran’s banks: Crippling or more window dressing?

By Brian O’Toole

Policy actions like these are a continuation of a foreign policy toward Iran that appears characterized by spite rather than achievable policy ends.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Oct 13, 2020

Fishman in the Washington Post: No, Trump has not been ‘tough’ on Russia

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

Event Recap

Oct 9, 2020

Event recap: A conversation with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Justin Muzinich

By GeoEconomics Center

A recap of the event featuring Deputy Secretary of US Treasury Justin Muzinich, who joined the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center for an address on the transatlantic economy.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Event Recap

Oct 9, 2020

How did Russia’s security services capture the Kremlin?

By Sabrina Hernandez

On October 5, the Eurasia Center launched the English-language translation of "Lubyanka federation: How the FSB determines the politics and economics of Russia," a groundbreaking new work by the Dossier Center utilizing confidential sources placed inside the Russian security services.

Corruption Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Oct 5, 2020

Tran Quoted in SCMP News on Unsustainable Liquidity Injections

By Hung Tran

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business
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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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