OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR part 594
Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR part 597
Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001
Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism, as Amended
GENERAL LICENSE NO. 18
Official Activities of Certain International Organizations and Other International Entities
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network, or any entity in which the Taliban or the Haqqani Network owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest, prohibited by the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 594 (GTSR), the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 597 (FTOSR), or Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, that are for the conduct of the official business of the following entities by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof are authorized:
(1) The United Nations, including its Programmes, Funds, and Other Entities and Bodies, as well as its Specialized Agencies and Related Organizations;
(2) The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA);
(3) The African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), including any fund entity administered or established by any of the foregoing;
(4) The International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and
(5) The Islamic Development Bank.
(b) This general license does not authorize:
(1) Financial transfers to any blocked person described in paragraph (a), other than for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services;
(2) Any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial institution of any blocked person described in paragraph (a); or
(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the GTSR, the FTOSR, or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or E.O. 13224, as amended.
Andrea M. Gacki
Director
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Dated: December 22, 2021
Notes:
1) Except as discussed below, this is an ordinary "Official business" GL that applies to activities of the UN and other international organizations. Compare e.g. Burma General License Number 2 - Official Activities of Certain International Organizations and Other International Entities (March 25, 2021). For detailed commentary on the scope and operation of the “official business” exemptions and GLs, see General Note on Exemptions and General Licenses for the “Official Business” of the U.S. Government (and/or United Nations) and Employees, Contractors, or Grantees Thereof.
2) For commentary concerning certain Afghanistan-related transactions that are not covered by this GL, refer to Temporary Note Concerning the Status of the Unrecognized Government of Afghanistan Under the GTSR (System Ed. Note). That note also addresses interpretive issues common to all or most Taliban-related GLs (but not other "official business" GLs), including:
*The Meaning of the Term "Financial Transfers"; Importance Thereof",
*The Meaning of “The Taliban” and “Haqqani Network”,
*Application to Dealings Involving Natural Person SDNs Blocked Due to Their Relationship with the Taliban.
3) The entities whose activities are authorized in this GL are all the subject of GL 14 as well. This GL expands on GL 14 by covering all "official business," irrespective of whether the official business is for transactions "ordinarily incident and necessary to the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan or other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan".