OFAC Issues Potash Exception to Belarus Sanctions

On December 15, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the government agency responsible for the administration of U.S. sanctions programs, issued Belarus General License No. 13, authorizing transactions with several major Belarusian producers of potash which would otherwise be prohibited by U.S. sanctions. Belarus is one of the world’s largest producers of potash, or potassium-based agricultural fertilizer. Belaruskali, one of the entities included in the General License, was responsible for 20% of the world’s potash production in 2019, prior to the imposition of U.S. sanctions.

The license was issued as part of an agreement with Belarus which secured the release of 123 prisoners, including notable opponents of the Lukashenko regime, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. The agreement was the result of negotiations with John Coale, the U.S. special envoy to Belarus, who expressed hope that “more and more sanctions will be lifted” as U.S.-Belarus relations continue improving. Coale told Reuters he believes around 1,000 more Belarusian prisoners could be released in the near future, and that most of the sanctions against Belarus could be lifted if they released all their political prisoners.

While these negotiations are in line with President Donald Trump’s attempts to broker peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, and normalize international relationships sundered by that conflict, it is at odds with actions taken by its European allies. On the same day as OFAC issued this license, the EU broadened the criteria under its Belarusian sanctions program to include actions that undermine the security or rule of law of its member states. This was in large part a response to a December 9th crisis in Lithuania over balloons allegedly used by Belarusian cigarette smugglers violating its airspace. Conversely, the EU also published a press release on December 15 signaling support for the Russia-Ukraine peace process.

How does this exception to Belarus sanctions impact Americans?

This move by the Trump administration signals potential progress toward economic détente, offering cautious optimism for U.S.-based entities seeking to do business with Belarus or Russia. American farmers in particular will likely benefit from the reintroduction of Belarusian fertilizers to the market, though continued EU sanctions may hinder this. Still, OFAC’s Russia-related sanctions will likely limit Belarus’s ability to export potash to America through Russian ports.

Besides these limits, any transactions with Belarusian entities may still be fraught with sanctions-related risks not covered by the General License. To ensure your transactions or operations comply with the parameters of an OFAC license, it is essential to consult with an experienced OFAC Sanctions Lawyer. The OFAC lawyers at Sanctions Law Center offer expert advice to help clients navigate sanctions compliance and avoid blocked funds or costly business interruptions. If your transaction is not covered by an existing General License, our OFAC license attorneys can also help you navigate the process of applying for a Specific License.

Beyond assisting with OFAC licensing and discrete compliance questions, our sanctions lawyers have years of experience designing and implementing holistic compliance programs tailored to clients’ specific risk profiles. A well-designed compliance program is the most effective way to manage sanctions-related risk. Whether you need to mitigate existing exposure, address active compliance issues, or prevent problems before they arise, our compliance counseling lawyers can help.