Is there a period for U.S. persons to continue imports prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) of March 8, 2022, “Prohibiting Certain Imports and New Investments With Respect to Continued Russian Federation Efforts to Undermine the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine”?
OFAC's answer
Through 12:01 eastern daylight time, April 22, 2022, Russia-related [General License (GL) 16](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/919021/download?inline) authorizes all transactions prohibited by [E.O. of March 8, 2022](https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/919031/download?inline) that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation of crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered prior to March 8, 2022. GL 16 does not authorize entry into new contracts. Additionally, E.O. of March 8, 2022 does not prohibit transactions such as the unwinding of contracts or other business-related activities by U.S. persons to comply with the import ban imposed under E.O. of March 8, 2022. Likewise, E.O. of March 8, 2022 does not prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions to sell or re-direct shipments that were laden on or after March 8, 2022 and previously destined for the United States. Note that all other prohibitions specified in E.O. of March 8, 2022 are effective immediately.