Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 14088: Taking Additional Steps To Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Expanded Nicaragua sanctions to authorize restrictions involving its gold sector, trade and investment and broadened designation criteria for repression, corruption and destabilizing conduct.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 14088 still in effect? Yes. Active sanctions authority.

A stylized Nicaragua map accompanies military, trade, mining and blocked-finance motifs.
Nicaragua sanctions authority, illustrated symbolically; not a current designation list, authoritative map or prohibition on every depicted transaction. EO Explained · site-generated editorial illustration · not documentary evidence.

What does Executive Order 14088 do?

Treasury could identify covered persons and sectors, while State and Commerce had separate diplomatic and trade responsibilities.

Administration position: The order’s findings and policy rationale were the Biden administration’s positions. This guide distinguishes them from implementation records and judicial rulings.
SignedOctober 24, 2022
Lead officialsTreasury/OFAC, State and Commerce
Express timingEffective immediately; designations and determinations as warranted

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13851 already authorized targeted sanctions against Nicaraguan officials and entities after political violence and democratic backsliding.

After the order

Treasury designated officials and entities and used sectoral authorities; Commerce and State applied related measures. The national emergency and OFAC program have been continued, with licenses and designations updated over time.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryDesignate persons and identify sectorsOngoing
StateCoordinate diplomatic and visa measuresOngoing
CommerceApply relevant trade controlsAs authorized

What happened next

EO 14088 signed.

OFAC continues to administer the program.