Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 12917: Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Haiti

President: Bill Clinton

Restricted Haitian-origin imports, dealings and promotion of exports, and U.S. supply to Haiti, subject to specified exceptions; the order was revoked in October 1994.

Status: Revoked — by EO 12932 on October 16, 1994.

Is Executive Order 12917 still in effect? No. EO 12932 revoked it in 1994.

What does Executive Order 12917 do?

EO 12917 implemented further UN sanctions against Haiti’s de facto regime. It barred specified Haitian-origin imports and dealings, promotion of Haitian exports, and U.S. sales, supplies and exports to Haiti, subject to information-material, authorized medical and specified food exceptions and Treasury licenses. The President’s October 1994 report records that Treasury withdrew assembly-sector import licenses effective May 22, 1994; this documents a concrete implementation step, not the sanction’s overall effect. EO 12932 revoked the order in October 1994.

Administration position: The import ban aimed to deny the regime export income. It was not a permanent embargo on democratic Haiti.
SignedMay 21, 1994
RestrictionHaitian-origin imports and dealings; U.S. supply to Haiti
ExceptionsInformation and qualifying transit trade

Before and after

Before the order

Earlier sanctions focused on government property, designated persons and selected transport.

After the order

Specified import, export, supply and facilitation transactions were prohibited while the order operated, subject to its exceptions and licenses.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryAdminister restrictions and licenses with StateUntil revocation
U.S. personsAvoid prohibited imports, dealings, supply and facilitationWhile the order operated

What happened next

EO 12917 imposed the restrictions.

Treasury withdrew assembly-sector import licenses in implementation of the new restrictions.

EO 12932 revoked the order.