U.S. Export Penalties

Penalties for violating U.S. export control regulations and sanctions can apply to individuals, companies and institutions.

Voluntary Disclosures

Voluntary disclosures (or self-disclosures) by companies who believe they may have violated applicable export controls generally result in “settlement agreements”. Because disclosures generally evidence intent to comply with U.S. export control requirements, and demonstrate the ability to identify violations and correct discrepancies, they rarely lead to criminal prosecution, instead reducing most cases fines and other administrative penalties.

Criminal and Civil Penalties under ITAR, EAR and OFAC

Penalties are classified as either criminal, or civil, with intent being the crucial differentiator. Incarceration applies only in criminal cases.

• International Traffic in-Arms Regulations (ITAR)

  Criminal: Maximum $1,000,000 per violation or up to ten years in prison, per violationCivil: Maximum $1,094,010 per violation

• Export Administration Regulations (EAR)

  Criminal

  Wilful Violation: knowledge that the items at issue will be used for the benefit of, or that the destination or intended destination of the items is, any country to which exports are restricted for national security or foreign policy reasons

  • Corporate — Maximum $1,000,000 or five times the value of the export(s), whichever is greater, per violation
  • Individual — Maximum $250,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years per violation or both, per violation

  Knowing Violation: the act is committed intentionally, but there is no specific intent to break the law

  • Corporate — Maximum $50,000 or five times the value of the export(s), whichever is greater
  • Individual — Maximum $50,000 per violation and up to five years imprisonment, or both

  Civil

  Maximum $12,000 per violation or $120,000 per violation for items involving national security or up to $284,582 per violation involving sanctions programs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

   

• Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

  Criminal

  • Corporate — Maximum $1,000,000 per violation, and up to $100,000 in individual fines, per violation
  • Individual — Maximum $250,000 or up to ten years in prison, or both, per violation

  Civil

  • Up to $83,864 per violation against the Trading With the Enemies Act (TWEA)
  • Up to $284,582 per violation involving sanctions programs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
  • Up to $75,122 per violation against the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA)
  • Up to $1,414,020 per violation against the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designations Act (FNKDA)

Administrative Penalties

For more information

For more information, call toll-free 1-877-328-7866 (Intl: 716-881-2590) and talk to one of our foreign trade compliance consultants. Or send an email.