12.10.2026 Regulation #USA #Russia #Import #Export #Sanctions

OFAC licenses Russian diesel trades, including US imports, to April 7, 2027

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 135 on October 9, 2026. It authorizes transactions related to the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of diesel fuel of Russian Federation origin, including importation into the United States, through 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 7, 2027 (license text).

What the license covers

The license is issued under the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 587) and the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 589). Paragraph (a) authorizes all transactions those regulations prohibit, provided they relate to:

It was signed by OFAC Director Bradley T. Smith and is dated October 9, 2026. The license itself cites no commodity codes; in Russia's export ban, diesel fuel falls under heading 2710 of the EAEU nomenclature.

What remains prohibited

Paragraph (b) excludes any debit to an account of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund or the Ministry of Finance held on the books of a US financial institution (OFAC). ANI / The Tribune notes that the license does not lift US sanctions on Russia across the board.

Statements by the parties and Russia's export ban

According to Izvestia, after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to US and world markets, then 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes right after, with up to 3 million tonnes more possible in a short period. These volumes are Mr. Trump's statements as reported by Izvestia. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the paper reports, said Russia was lifting diesel export restrictions ahead of schedule and allowed for higher shipments in November–December once refinery maintenance ends, adding that the domestic market would be supplied. As relayed from TASS by The Tribune, he also said the market is balanced and exports would reopen only partially in case of overproduction.

Russia, for its part, restricts fuel exports: Government Resolution No. 954 bans exports of commercial gasoline, diesel fuel, marine fuel and other gas oils (for diesel, marine fuel and gas oils, EAEU HS 2710 19 421 0 – 2710 19 429 0) from August 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. The ban exempts, among other things, international humanitarian aid under Russian Government decisions and transit. Two exemptions are tied to the "n" coefficient, which must equal zero roubles per tonne on the date the declaration is registered: subparagraph "в" of paragraph 2 covers diesel, marine fuel and other gas oils exported under intergovernmental agreements (including to EAEU states) within indicative balances and runs through October 31, 2026; subparagraph "г" covers the same goods exported for any purpose and takes effect on November 1, 2026. Resolution No. 1252 of September 29, 2026 moved exactly these dates (previously September 30 and October 1); the ban itself was not changed.

What this means for market participants

The license covers only transactions related to the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian-origin diesel fuel and runs until April 7, 2027; debits to the accounts named in paragraph (b) are not authorized. Conditions for exporting diesel from Russia are set by Resolution No. 954 in its current wording.

Primary sources

Mentioned codes

2710

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.