Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Economy & Business

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

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by the Business Insider

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

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

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.

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

Report

Jun 21, 2023

Sanctioning China in a Taiwan crisis: Scenarios and risks

By Charlie Vest and Agatha Kratz

New research on possible options and their costs of G7 sanctions on China in the event of a Taiwan Crisis.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jun 21, 2023

Donovan quoted by Newsweek on Russia-China sanctions evasion

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jun 19, 2023

Yevgeniya Gaber joins TVP World to discuss Putin’s plans to visit Turkey

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion NATO

Report

Jun 15, 2023

US-China lessons from Ukraine: Fueling more dangerous Taiwan tensions

By John K. Culver, Sarah Kirchberger

The lessons that Washington and Beijing appear to be learning from Russia's war against Ukraine could set the stage for a crisis over Taiwan in the next few years.

China Defense Industry

Econographics

Jun 14, 2023

How is China mitigating the effects of sanctions on Russia?

By Maia Nikoladze, Phillip Meng and Jessie Yin

Despite Xi and Putin’s public proclamation of a ‘no limits’ partnership, China and Russia’s economic ties are limited by Beijing’s strategic interests.

China Europe & Eurasia

Global China Hub

China Chinese

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Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Energy Sanctions Dashboard

Russia Sanctions Database

Recent analysis

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

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

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

Programs

Content

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by the Business Insider

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by Süddeutsche Zeitung

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by the Wall Street Journal

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by the Wall Street Journal

“Sanctioning China in a Taiwan Crisis: Scenarios and Risks” report cited by the South China Morning Post

Sanctioning China in a Taiwan crisis: Scenarios and risks

Donovan quoted by Newsweek on Russia-China sanctions evasion

Yevgeniya Gaber joins TVP World to discuss Putin’s plans to visit Turkey

US-China lessons from Ukraine: Fueling more dangerous Taiwan tensions

How is China mitigating the effects of sanctions on Russia?

Experts

Nitansha Bansal

Ryan Berger

Chris Brummer

Michael Carpenter

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Claire Chu

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