Print

U.S. Sanctions Against China and Russia: Comparative Analysis

216
Rubric: Economy, Economic Theory
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2023-67-11-70-79
EDN: RCSHFV
I. Timofeev, mctimoff@mail.ru
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, 76, Vernadskogo Prosp., Moscow, 119454, Russian Federation.
PDF (RUS)

Received 24.07.2023. Revised 11.08.2023. Accepted 23.08.2023.

Abstract. The U.S. foreign policy relies on the use of economic sanctions in relations with both China (PRC) and Russia (RF). The National Security Strategy of the United States identifies PRC and RF as significant threats to the U.S. However, the view of China concentrates on long-term trends, while Russia is an immediate challenge, especially after the launch of its Special Military Operation in Ukraine on February 2022. This difference must have a reflection on the level of sanctions policy against these two targets. The substance of such differences in terms of sanctions instruments in use as well as the quality and quantity of their implementation is central for this article. Another question is about the ways the U.S. Congress and Administration approach China and Russia in terms of sanctions. Are they really on the same page or do they compete in their approaches to Beijing and Moscow? In terms of methodology, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) databases represent the major source for comparative analysis. Another source is the U.S. legal acts on sanctions against China and Russia and the practice of their implementation. The analysis reveals major differences in sanctions policy of the U.S. vis-à-vis the two adversaries. Washington implements much wider set of sanctions instruments against Russia in comparison with China. Major Russian companies and sectors of economy are the targets of different kinds of sanctions, while Chinese ones are targeted to a much less extent. The intensity of the use of sanctions is again much greater in the Russian case. Partisan differences in Congress on China are more salient than on Russia, however, disagreements are not critical in both cases. Further aggravation of Sino-American relations may mitigate the differences of sanctions against Russia and China in the future.

Keywords: policy of sanctions, economic sanctions, export control, Russia, China, USA


REFERENCES

1. Giumelli F. The Purposes of Targeted Sanctions. Beirsteker T., Eckert S., Tourihno M., eds. Targeted Sanctions. The Impacts and Effectiveness of United Nations Action. New York, Cambridge University Press, 2016, pp. 38-59.

2. Timofeev I.N. “Sanctions for Sanctions Violation”: U. S. Department of Treasury Enforcement Actions against the Financial Sector. Polis. Political Studies, 2020, no. 6, pp. 73-90. (In Russ.) Available at: http://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2020.06.06 

3. Rosenberg E., Harrell P., Feng A. A New Arsenal for Competition. Coercive Economic Measures in the U.S.-China Relationship. The Center for a New American Security, 24.04.2020. Available at: https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/a-new-arsenal-for-competition (accessed 10.08.2023).

4. Nephew R. China and Economic Sanctions: Where Does Washington Have Leverage? Global China, 2019. Available at: https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FP_20190930_china_economic_sanctions_nephew.pdf (accessed 10.08.2023).

5. Bakulina P.V., Kuzmina K.A. China’s Policy of Economic Sanctions: Legislation and Enforcement. Financial Journal, 2021, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 24-38. (In Russ.) Available at: https://doi.org/10.31107/2075-1990-2021-4-24-38 

6. Kashin V.B., Timofeev I.N. U.S.-China Relations: Moving towards a New Cold War? Valdai Discussion Club Report, 03.06.2021. 37 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://valdaiclub.com/files/34458/ (accessed 10.08.2023).

7. Timofeev I. Sanctions on Russia: A New Chapter. Russia in Global Affairs, 2022, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 103-119. Available at: http://doi.org/10.31278/1810-6374-2022-20-4-103-119 

8. Zhuravleva V.Yu. American Presidents and Congress in Tug-of-War for Power. Moscow, IMEMO, 2011. 163 p. (In Russ.)

9. Hanauer L. The Days after a Deal with Iran. Congress’s Role in Implementing a Nuclear Agreement. Rand Corporation, 2015. 36 p. Available at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE139.html (accessed 10.08.2023).

10. Jaffer J. Elements of Its Own Demise: Key Flaws in the Obama Administration’s Domestic Approach to the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 2019, vol. 51, pp. 77-101.

11. Vickery P. Trumping Congress. Texas Law Review, 2019, vol. 97, pp. 1309-1333.

12. Chafetz J. Congress’s Constitution. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 2012, vol. 160, pp. 715-778.


SOURCES

1. The Biden-Harris Administration’s National Security Strategy. The White House, 12.10.2022. Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/12/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administrations-national-security-strategy/ (accessed 10.08.2023).

2. PL 116-76 of November 27, 2019. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838 (accessed 10.08.2023).

3. PL 116-149 of July 14, 2020. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7440 (accessed 10.08.2023).

4. PL 116-145 of June 17, 2020. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3744 (accessed 10.08.2023).

5. PL 117-178 of December 23, 2021. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6256 (accessed 10.08.2023).

6. PL 105-261 of October 17, 1998. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/105/plaws/publ261/PLAW-105publ261.pdf (accessed 10.08.2023).

7. PL 115-232 of August 13, 2018. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5515/text (accessed 10.08.2023).

8. PL 116-92 of December 20, 2019. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1790 (accessed 10.08.2023).

9. PL 116-283 of January 1, 2021. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6395/text (accessed 10.08.2023).

10. PL 113-95 of April 3, 2014. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4152 (accessed 10.08.2023).

11. PL 113-272 of December 18, 2014. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ272/PLAW-113publ272.pdf (accessed 10.08.2023).

12. PL 115-44 of August 2, 2017. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ44/PLAW-115publ44.pdf (accessed 10.08.2023).

13. PL 117-109 of August 4, 2022. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6968/text (accessed 10.08.2023).

14. PL 117-110 of August 4, 2022. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7108 (accessed 10.08.2023).

15. PL 117-263 of December 23, 2022. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7776/text (accessed 10.08.2023).

16. PL 95-223 of October 28, 1977. Available at: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/95/hr7738/text/enr (accessed 10.08.2023).

17. EO 13694 of April 1, 2015. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/5831/download?inline (accessed 10.08.2023).

18. EO 13873 of May 17, 2019. Available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/17/2019-10538/securing-the-information-and-communications-technology-and-services-supply-chain (accessed 10.08.2023).

19. Code of Federal Regulations, Supplement No. 4 to Part 744. Available at: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/regulations-docs/2326-supplement-no-4-to-part-744-entity-list-4/file (accessed 10.08.2023).

20. Executive Order on Protecting Americans’ Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries. The White House, 09.06.2021. Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/09/executive-order-on-protecting-americans-sensitive-data-from-foreign-adversaries/ (accessed 10.08.2023).

21. U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York Superseding Indictment of January 24, 2019. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/press-release/file/1125036/download (accessed 10.08.2023).

22. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of March 7, 2017. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/zte-corporation-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-over‑4304-million-violating-us-sanctions-sending (accessed 10.08.2023).

23. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of November 10, 2021. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/georgia-company-and-owner-sentenced-role-scheme-evade-us-national-security-trade (accessed 10.08.2023).

24. Code of Federal Regulations, Supplement No. 2 to Part 744. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-744/appendix-Supplement%20No.%202%20to%20Part%20744 (accessed 10.08.2023).

25. Code of Federal Regulations, Supplement No. 7 to Part 744. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-744/appendix-Supplement%20No.%207%20to%20Part%20744 (accessed 10.08.2023).

26. U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Release of August 7, 2020. Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1088 (accessed 10.08.2023).

27. U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Release of July 9, 2020. Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1055 (accessed 10.08.2023).

28. U.S. Department of the Treasury Notice of July 1, 2020. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20200701 (accessed 10.08.2023).

29. U.S. Department of Commerce Press Release of July 20, 2020. Available at: https://2017-2021.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2020/07/commerce-department-adds-eleven-chinese-entities-implicated-human.html (accessed 10.08.2023).

30. U.S. Department of State Press Statement of July 7, 2020. Available at: https://2017-2021.state.gov/implementing-visa-restrictions-under-the-reciprocal-access-to-tibet-act/index.html (accessed 10.08.2023).

31. International Monetary Fund Report of August 2, 2019. Available at: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2019/08/01/Russian-Federation-2019-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-48549 (accessed 10.08.2023).

32. A Rule by the Industry and Security Bureau on April 14, 2023. Available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/04/14/2022-07937/expansion-of-sanctions-against-russia-and-belarus-under-the-export-administration-regulations-ear (accessed 10.08.2023).

33. Code of Federal Regulations, Supplement No. 4 to Part 746 of 03 July 2023. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-746/appendix-Supplement%20No.%204%20to%20Part%20746 (accessed 10.08.2023).

34. Code of Federal Regulations, Supplement No. 5 to Part 746 of 03 July 2023. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-746/appendix-Supplement%20No.%205%20to%20Part%20746 (accessed 10.08.2023).

35. EO 14071 of April 6, 2022. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/922081/download?inline (accessed 10.08.2023).

36. EO 14068 of March 11, 2022. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/919281/download?inline (accessed 10.08.2023).

37. U.S. Department of the Treasury Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/specially-designated-nationals-and-blocked-persons-list-sdn-human-readable-lists (accessed 10.08.2023).

38. EO 14024 of April 15, 2021. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/57936/download?inline (accessed 10.08.2023).

39. U.S. Department of the Treasury Guidance of February 3, 2023. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/931036/download?inline (accessed 10.08.2023).

40. U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Release of May 19, 2023. Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1494 (accessed 10.08.2023).

41. U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona Criminal Complaint of May 12, 2023. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1583871/download (accessed 10.08.2023).

42. U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas Indictment of March 1, 2023. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1571691/download (accessed 10.08.2023).

43. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of October 19, 2022. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/five-russian-nationals-and-two-oil-traders-charged-global-sanctions-evasion-and-money (accessed 10.08.2023).

44. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of January 23, 2023. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-special-agent-charge-new-york-fbi-counterintelligence-division-charged-violating?fbclid=IwAR27KSlkxlH36Fz7uZm7abkjkP0q5TYtu5olcJyHtyncPfJ8Bbr0EfBQ89s (accessed 10.08.2023).

45. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of September 29, 2022. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-oligarch-oleg-vladimirovich-deripaska-and-associates-indicted-sanctions-evasion-and (accessed 10.08.2023).

46. U.S. Department of Justice Press Release of April 25, 2023. Available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-attorney-pleads-guilty-conspiring-commit-money-laundering-promote-sanctions (accessed 10.08.2023).


For citation:
Timofeev I. U.S. Sanctions Against China and Russia: Comparative Analysis. World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2023, vol. 67, no. 11, pp. 70-79. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2023-67-11-70-79 EDN: RCSHFV

Contents World Eñonomy and International Relations. 2023, vol. 67, no. 11

Comments (0)

Show

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2025, vol. 69, No. 3
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Interference Debate within the UN: Record of Systematic Study 
  • Problems and Ways of Russia’s Access to Non-CIS Countries Product Markets
  • The Integration in Central Asia: Restrictions and Perspectives
Announcement

Dear authors of the journal!

Please note that the author's copies of the issues in which your texts are published are kept in the editorial office for no more than one year. After this period expires, the editorial office has the right to dispose of unclaimed copies at its own discretion.

 

Submit an Article
Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.

Scientific and Practical Seminar of IMEMO, RIAC
and the MEMO Journal