Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Importation of Certain Goods from Liberia

This executive order declares a national emergency and blocks all U.S.-based property of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, his immediate family, senior officials of his regime, and their associates. It also prohibits the importation of all round logs and timber products from Liberia, citing links between illicit timber trade and arms trafficking that perpetuate regional conflict.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 44885

Impact dates

Jul 23, 2004
Order effective — property blocking and timber import prohibition take effect

Key directives

Block all property and interests in property of listed persons and those determined by Treasury/State to be Taylor family members, regime officials, close associates, or supporters of unlawful resource depletion
Prohibit importation of any round log or timber product originating in Liberia
Prohibit evasion, avoidance, and conspiracies to violate the order
Authorize Treasury/State to issue implementing regulations and delegate functions
Authorize Treasury/State to remove persons from blocked list when circumstances no longer warrant inclusion

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Property blocking takes effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 23, 2004
Import ban on Liberian round logs and timber products takes effect
No prior notice required for listings or determinations

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Treasury to promulgate rules and regulations to implement order
Treasury/State to begin identifying persons meeting criteria for blocking

Long term

Ongoing enforcement of asset freezes and import prohibition
Potential delisting determinations when circumstances warrant
Recurring congressional reports on national emergency status

Risks & tensions

Definition of 'close ally or associate' and 'materially assisted' gives Treasury broad discretion, creating uncertainty for entities with historical Liberian ties
Timber ban may harm legitimate Liberian forestry sector already struggling post-conflict; no licensing mechanism provided for legal timber
Immediate effective date with no prior notice requirement raises due process concerns, though justified by risk of asset flight
No sunset clause or review period specified; emergency could persist indefinitely
UNSCR 1521/1532 compliance creates tension with WTO trade obligations