Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the International Criminal Court to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list on October 9, naming the institution at Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK, The Hague, with organization established date 1 July 2002 and Dutch VAT number NL810956822, tagged ICC-EO14203. [E2][E3]
OFAC is issuing International Criminal Court-related General License 13, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving the International Criminal Court," General License 14, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Telecommunications and Enterprise Software Involving the International Criminal Court," General License 15, "Authorizing Transactions Related to Pension Payments Involving the International Criminal Court," and General License 16, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Certain International Criminal Court Detainees." [E1]
The sanctions cut the court off from U.S.-based financial services, technology companies and even using U.S. dollars, AP reported. [E7]
They set a six-month timeline for U.S. companies and individuals that have business with the court to wind that business down, AP reported. [E7]
In a joint statement published by Canada, the undersigned States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court reaffirm their continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC. [E4]
As committed supporters of the ICC they regret and strongly disagree with the announcement of sanctions to be imposed upon the Court by the United States. [E5]
Nevertheless, if put into effect, these sanctions will have a significant impact on the Court's work, its dedicated staff and their families. They work every day to bring those accused of the most serious international crimes to justice and to support their victims. Canada's joint statement said. [E6]
The court's host country of the Netherlands has been preparing for weeks for the move, AP reported. [E8]
One possible measure to mitigate sanctions is the EU "blocking statute," which could be used to protect European court staff by preventing European companies from complying with the U.S. measures. [E8]
Rubio said U.S. allies should join in the U.S. actions. "If they do not, the United States will continue its campaign to dismantle the ICC, piece by piece, until Americans are threatened no longer," AP reported. [E9]
With its sanctions against the International Criminal Court as an institution, the US Administration seeks to destroy the Court and extinguish any prospect of justice for perpetrators of grave crimes under international law, Amnesty International said. [E10]
President Trump's sanctions are designed to isolate and ultimately destroy the International Criminal Court. This existential attack must fail. States must take concrete action to resist the imposition of these measures and actively protect the Court," said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International's Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns. [E11]
The ICC has 125 member states. They must take concrete actions to defend the Court. This includes political and financial support, enacting national and regional 'blocking statutes' to ensure that the ICC can continue to access essential services and systems, resisting attempts to obstruct its work and fully cooperating with its investigations and arrest warrants. Amnesty International said. [E12]