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

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by Munich Security Report 2023 on secondary sanctions against China

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
Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by Munich Security Report 2023 on secondary sanctions against China

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
Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by Munich Security Report 2023 on secondary sanctions against China

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

Feb 14, 2023

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by Munich Security Report 2023 on secondary sanctions against China

Read the full report here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 14, 2023

Hung quoted and cited by Reuters on mutually assured destruction in US-China economic war

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 13, 2023

Russian sanctions enforcement event featured by Lawfare for weekly announcement

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Feb 13, 2023

Webster in The Diplomat: China’s Growing Economic Support for Russia
China Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 13, 2023

Tannenbaum interviewed by Bloomberg Surveillance on effect of Russian sanctions

Watch the full video here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Feb 13, 2023

Lichfield quoted in The Guardian about sanctions on Russia

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

UkraineAlert

Feb 9, 2023

Countering Russian threats to global financial security

By Benton Coblentz

Russia and its proxies have long exploited the rules-based global financial system for their personal gain and in service of Moscow’s geopolitical strategy, but the invasion of Ukraine has sparked calls for counter measures.

Conflict Corruption

In the News

Feb 7, 2023

Fishman quoted in the New York Times: “Sanctions, in general, are more like a marathon than a sprint”

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

In the News

Feb 7, 2023

O’Toole quoted by Financial Times on difference between sanctions authority mechanisms in US and EU

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

UkraineAlert

Feb 7, 2023

The Belarusian opposition can help defeat Putin in Ukraine

By Stephen Nix, Mark Dietzen

Belarus has played a key supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine but the democratic Belarusian opposition recognizes that defeating Putin can lead to the downfall of their own dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belarus Conflict
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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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