Sudan

There are limited possibilities for American investors and export-import firms to conduct business in Sudan. U. S. and other economic sanctions, high taxes and frequent changes to the investment code are all factors discouraging foreign direct investment. To date, gum Arabic is the only Sudan-originated product that is permitted to enter the American market, and U. S. purchasers of Sudanese gum Arabic must obtain an import license from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, U. S. sanctions prohibit Americans from engaging in any business transaction involving the Government of Sudan, including state-owned companies. At present the Bank of Khartoum is the only Sudanese bank not designated under OFAC sanctions.