CT-GL-16

Summary

General License No. 16 authorizes transactions involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network (or entities they own 50% or more of) that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the transfer of noncommercial, personal remittances to Afghanistan, including through Afghan depository institutions. This authorization applies notwithstanding prohibitions under the GTSR, FTOSR, or E.O. 13224, as amended. Noncommercial personal remittances expressly exclude charitable donations to entities and funds transfers for business purposes. Certain financial transfers to blocked persons and debits to blocked persons' U.S. accounts remain prohibited.

Authorized activities

• Transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the transfer of noncommercial, personal remittances to Afghanistan
• Transfers of noncommercial, personal remittances through Afghan depository institutions
• Financial transfers to blocked persons (Taliban/Haqqani Network) for the purpose of effecting payment of reasonable and customary taxes, fees, or other duties

Conditions

Noncommercial, personal remittances do not include charitable donations of funds to or for the benefit of an entity or funds transfers for use in supporting or operating a business, including a family-owned business. Transferring institutions may rely on the originator of a funds transfer for compliance purposes, provided they do not know or have reason to know the transfer is non-compliant. The license does not authorize: (1) financial transfers to any blocked person other than for reasonable and customary taxes, fees, or other duties; (2) any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial institution of any blocked person; or (3) any transactions otherwise prohibited by the GTSR, FTOSR, 31 CFR chapter V, or E.O. 13224, as amended. Nothing in the license relieves any person from compliance with other Federal laws or requirements of other Federal agencies.