Page:2020-07-29 PSI Staff Report - The Art Industry and U.S. Policies that Undermine Sanctions.pdf/19

 '''II. BACKGROUND'''

A. U.S. Sanctions Enforcement

Sanctions are a critical tool for combatting national security threats and advancing foreign policy objectives. Sanctions as a U.S. foreign policy tool have grown in recent years, with presidents using sanctions to target terrorist organizations, punish foreign governments, and encourage adversaries to enter negotiations with the United States without resorting to military action. In fact, during his first year in office, President Trump designated approximately 1,000 individuals and entities. This is triple the number listed by President Obama during his first year, and 30 percent more than his last year in office.

1. The U.S. Treasury Department

In 1789, Congress established the Treasury Department ("Treasury" or the "Department") to promote economic prosperity and ensure financial security. Treasury's mission is to "maintain a strong economy and create economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad, strengthen national security by combatting threats and protecting the integrity of the financial system, and manage the U.S. Government's finances and resources effectively." This multi-faceted mandate reflects its central role in the U.S. economic and financial system.

A key part of the Department's mission involves the implementation of economic sanctions against foreign actors and entities. Established in 2004, the Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence ("TFI") is responsible