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

Samad quoted on Sports Grind Entertainment discussing that Taliban do not have expertise to handle the Afghan economy.

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
Samad quoted on Sports Grind Entertainment discussing that Taliban do not have expertise to handle the Afghan economy.

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
Samad quoted on Sports Grind Entertainment discussing that Taliban do not have expertise to handle the Afghan economy.

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

Aug 25, 2021

Samad quoted on Sports Grind Entertainment discussing that Taliban do not have expertise to handle the Afghan economy.

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Conflict

Fast Thinking

Aug 24, 2021

FAST THINKING: A sanctioned Taliban now rules Afghanistan’s multibillion-dollar economy. How do we deal with that?

By Hagar Hajjar Chemali, Brian O’Toole

On this episode of Fast Thinking, Hagar Chemali and Brian O'Toole, both nonresident senior fellows with the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center, discuss what it means for the Taliban to be sanctioned as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and how China and Russia may try to influence the situation on the ground.

Afghanistan Extremism

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2021

Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Niels Graham

Beijing is eyeing major investments in Afghanistan—but it's up to the Taliban to ease its concerns about security.

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Aug 23, 2021

They aren’t listed, but make no mistake: The UN has sanctions on the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

As the militant group settles in to rule Afghanistan again, sanctions remain one of the only viable points of leverage for the international community. Here's what the UN's own rules say.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 19, 2021

O’Toole quoted in Time about sanctions on the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 19, 2021

Lipsky interviewed on NPR about denying the Taliban access to funds

By Josh Lipsky

Listen to the interview here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Lipsky op-ed on the Taliban’s access to IMF SDRs published in Wall Street Journal

By Josh Lipsky

Read the whole article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 18, 2021

Wechsler and Lipsky in The Wall Street Journal: “Will the IMF Bankroll the Taliban?”

By Atlantic Council

"The first real test of whether the Taliban will be accepted by the international community will happen in the IMF boardroom," write Josh Lipsky and William Wechsler in the WSJ.

Afghanistan Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2021

The Taliban now controls the Afghan economy. Here’s what that means.

By Alex Zerden

The reality of a strengthened Taliban running the Afghan government creates substantial and imminent economic policy challenges for the United States and the international community.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 17, 2021

Friedlander interviewed by South China Morning Post about Hong Kong’s anti-sanctions law

By Julia Friedlander

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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