Connexion
US extends authorization to import some diamonds of Russian origin despite sanctions
The US Treasury Department has extended through September 2026 its authorization for importing certain Russian diamonds, according to a statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The license permits operations involving the import of specific Russian diamonds, provided they are physically located outside Russia. Under the renewed authorization, the United States allows imports of diamonds weighing 1 carat or more if they were not exported from Russia before 1 March 2024, and diamonds weighing 0.5 carats or more if they were not exported from Russia before 1 September 2024.
However, the import of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin to the United States remains prohibited, OFAC reports.
The authorization comes nearly two years after G7 countries announced in early December 2023 a phased ban on Russian diamond imports. The group indicated that further restrictions would target Russian diamonds processed in third countries.
The European Union implemented its 12th sanctions package in December 2023, imposing a ban on direct or indirect import, purchase, or transportation of diamonds from Russia. The United States announced its own prohibition on importing Russian-origin diamonds in February 2024.
The Treasury’s General License No. 104A, effective 27 August 2025, specifies that authorized transactions must be “ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation and entry into the United States, including importation for admission into a foreign trade zone.” The license explicitly states it “does not authorize any transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations.”
The document notes that compliance with “any other Federal laws or requirements of other Federal agencies” remains mandatory despite the general license authorization.
