US eases decades-long Sudan trade embargo

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Friday announced it is easing its sanctions regime on Sudan after the country made "progress" in counterterrorism efforts and keeping to a ceasefire in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

A 180-day delay in the order's implementation is "intended to encourage the Government of Sudan to sustain its efforts in these areas", President Barack Obama said in a letter to Congress.

The Treasury Department will allow U.S. nationals to do business there and export goods to the north African country after the interim period is completed. Any assets Sudan owns in the U.S. have similarly been unfrozen.

"Sudan has met our benchmarks and made significant progress toward these goals, as well as new commitments," the State Department said in a statement.

Sudan welcomed the move, calling it a "remarkable positive development".

While some economic penalties have been lifted as a result of Friday's actions, the State Department's designation of Sudan as a state-sponsor of terrorism will remain, according to senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officials said that Sudan was interested in agricultural machinery equipment, agricultural products, transportation equipment, IT equipment, as well as medical and energy equipment.

The U.S. has sanctioned Sudan for nearly three decades dating back to the 1990's.

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has been briefed on the actions, but the officials said they could not comment on whether Trump's team would follow through on the order's implementation.

The interim period would end roughly six months into Trump's term.

*Mohammed Amin from Sudan contributed to this report.