Presidential Determination with Respect to Foreign

This presidential determination applies sanctions under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, withholding certain U.S. government funding for FY2005 to Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela (Tier 3 countries) and to Burma, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea (special cases). It also approves waivers allowing specific assistance to Equatorial Guinea (police professionalization, rule of law), Sudan (North/South peace accord and Darfur crisis), and Venezuela (democratic process strengthening) as being in the national interest.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 56155

Impact dates

Date TBD
Federal Register publication
Date TBD
Secretary of State report to Congress on compliance determinations
Oct 1, 2004
FY2005 funding restrictions take effect

Key directives

Withhold certain FY2005 funding for Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela until compliance with anti-trafficking standards
Withhold certain FY2005 funding for Burma, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea until compliance
Authorize waiver for Equatorial Guinea assistance for police professionalization, business responsibility, and rule of law programs
Authorize waiver for Sudan assistance for North/South peace accord and Darfur crisis programs
Authorize waiver for Venezuela assistance for democratic process strengthening programs
Submit determination to Congress
Publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Funding restrictions take effect for FY2005
Waiver determinations for Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Venezuela programs authorized

Near term (90d)

Secretary of State to report to Congress on compliance efforts
Federal Register publication required

Long term

Continued sanctions until countries comply with minimum standards or make significant efforts

Risks & tensions

Waiver for Venezuela democracy programs amid tense U.S.-Venezuela relations may be seen as political
Sudan waiver links trafficking sanctions to Darfur crisis response, conflating distinct policy issues
Equatorial Guinea waiver for police programs despite Tier 3 status creates tension with Act's punitive intent
Document does not specify exact funding amounts withheld, creating implementation uncertainty