Executive Order 13357: Termination of Emergency Declared in Executive Order 12543 With Respect to the Policies and Actions of the Government of Libya and Revocation of Related Executive Orders

President: George W. Bush

Terminated the national emergency declared by EO 12543 and revoked the related Libya sanctions orders, preserving earlier liabilities.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13357 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13357 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13357 do?

EO 13357 terminated that particular emergency and revoked EOs 12538, 12543, 12544 and 12801, while preserving pending proceedings and prior liabilities. In a rule effective March 30, 2006, Treasury’s OFAC removed the Libyan Sanctions Regulations at 31 CFR part 550 because the earlier emergency and orders had ended. OFAC preserved unresolved enforcement matters and identified other applicable export controls. The 2004 termination should not be confused with later, distinct Libya measures.

Administration position: The President cited Libya’s changed weapons commitments and other developments as grounds for ending the older emergency.
SignedSeptember 20, 2004
Earlier frameworkEOs 12543, 12544 and 12801 formed part of a 1986 Libya emergency regime, alongside EO 12538’s petroleum-import prohibition.
Responsible bodyPresident and Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control
Later primary evidenceMarch 30, 2006: In a rule effective March 30, 2006, Treasury’s OFAC removed the Libyan Sanctions Regulations at 31 CFR part 550 because the earlier emergency and orders had ended. OFAC preserved unresolved enforcement matters and identified other applicable export controls. The 2004 termination should not be confused with later, distinct Libya measures.

Before and after

Before the order

EOs 12543, 12544 and 12801 formed part of a 1986 Libya emergency regime, alongside EO 12538’s petroleum-import prohibition.

After the order

EO 13357 terminated that particular emergency and revoked EOs 12538, 12543, 12544 and 12801, while preserving pending proceedings and prior liabilities.

In a rule effective March 30, 2006, Treasury’s OFAC removed the Libyan Sanctions Regulations at 31 CFR part 550 because the earlier emergency and orders had ended. OFAC preserved unresolved enforcement matters and identified other applicable export controls. The 2004 termination should not be confused with later, distinct Libya measures.

What did the signed order change?

EOs 12543, 12544 and 12801 formed part of a 1986 Libya emergency regime, alongside EO 12538’s petroleum-import prohibition. EO 13357 terminated that particular emergency and revoked EOs 12538, 12543, 12544 and 12801, while preserving pending proceedings and prior liabilities.

What happened later?

Treasury OFAC — 2006 removal of Libyan Sanctions Regulations documents this later development: In a rule effective March 30, 2006, Treasury’s OFAC removed the Libyan Sanctions Regulations at 31 CFR part 550 because the earlier emergency and orders had ended. OFAC preserved unresolved enforcement matters and identified other applicable export controls. The 2004 termination should not be confused with later, distinct Libya measures.

What does that evidence establish?

The order acts under IEEPA and the National Emergencies Act and saves actions, accrued duties and penalties predating its effective date. OFAC’s 2006 rule removed 31 CFR part 550, not every possible trade or sanctions restriction involving Libya, and expressly preserved ongoing enforcement. Ending this emergency did not legalize prior violations or erase unrelated export rules or later emergencies. The signed order controls its original terms.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
President and Treasury Office of Foreign Assets ControlEnded the 1986 emergency and removed the related OFAC regulatory partUnder the signed order and governing law

What happened next

EO 13357 signed.

In a rule effective March 30, 2006, Treasury’s OFAC removed the Libyan Sanctions Regulations at 31 CFR part 550 because the earlier emergency and orders had ended. OFAC preserved unresolved enforcement matters and identified other applicable export controls. The 2004 termination should not be confused with later, distinct Libya measures.