Skip to main content
Menu Icon
Close

InfoBytes Blog

Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

OFAC issues preliminary guidance on price cap policy implementation

Financial Crimes OFAC Department of Treasury Of Interest to Non-US Persons Russia

Financial Crimes

On December 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced preliminary guidance on the implementation of the price cap policy for petroleum products of Russian Federation origin. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in November, OFAC published a Determination Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14071 stating that the prohibitions of E.O. 14071 apply to U.S. persons providing covered services (including (i) trading/commodities brokering; (ii) financing; (iii) shipping; (iv) insurance, including reinsurance and protection and indemnity; (v) flagging; and (vi) customs brokering) as they relate to the maritime transport of Russian Federation crude oil, provided, however, that such covered services are authorized if the Russian oil is purchased at or below the price cap. OFAC also published guidance on the implementation of a policy for crude oil of Russian Federation origin to provide an overview of the determination and the price cap. OFAC noted that it anticipates publishing final, combined guidance for both Russian oil and Russian petroleum products before February 5.