Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 12932: Termination of Emergency With Respect to Haiti

President: Bill Clinton

Ended the Haiti emergency after restoration of elected government and revoked the principal sanctions orders while preserving earlier liabilities.

Status: Completed/expired.

Is Executive Order 12932 still in effect? No. Completed termination of the 1991 Haiti emergency and revocation of eight sanctions orders on October 16, 1994.

What does Executive Order 12932 do?

EO 12932 ended the 1991 Haiti national emergency and revoked eight named sanctions orders effective October 16, 1994, after President Aristide returned. It preserved liability and proceedings for earlier conduct. Treasury then amended the Haitian Transactions Regulations on December 27, 1994 to reflect the termination, authorizing transactions previously prohibited by the program while retaining reporting duties for activity before termination and enforcement of earlier violations. The later rule implemented the October effective date; it did not postpone it.

Administration position: The order marked a change in the factual basis for sanctions following democratic restoration. It did not erase violations or liabilities accrued while the measures were active.
SignedOctober 14, 1994
EffectiveOctober 16, 1994
Orders revokedEight

Before and after

Before the order

The 1991 emergency supported escalating property, trade, finance and transport sanctions.

After the order

The named emergency and orders ended, subject to the savings clause.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Executive agenciesEnd prospective enforcement of the revoked programFrom October 16, 1994
Enforcement authoritiesPreserve earlier liabilities and pending proceedingsUnder the savings clause

What happened next

EO 12775 declared the emergency.

President Aristide returned.

EO 12932 terminated the emergency.

Treasury amended the Haiti regulations to reflect the October 16 termination and preserve earlier reporting and enforcement.