Anti-Boycott Regulations

A subset of the EAR known as the Anti-Boycott Regulations prohibits US persons from participating in—or even agreeing to participate in—a boycott that is inconsistent with US Government policy. These regulations were created specifically in response to the Arab League boycott of Israel, which the US Government does not support. The Anti-Boycott provisions prohibit the following activities (among others):

• Agreeing to refuse or actually refusing to do business with a boycotted country (e.g., Israel) or a blacklisted person
• Agreeing to discriminate or actually discriminating against persons based on race, religion, sex, national origin, or nationality (such as agreeing not to hire Israeli nationals)
• Agreeing to furnish or actually furnishing information about the race, religion, sex, or national origin of personnel
• Agreeing to furnish or actually furnishing information about relationships with a boycotted country or blacklisted person 
• Agreeing to furnish or actually furnishing certain certifications regarding the eligibility of vessels to dock in a boycotting country’s ports

The Anti-Boycott Regulations further provide that US persons receiving a request to agree to participate in an unauthorized boycott must file a report with the US Government. Examples of real-world boycott requests reported by the public may be viewed here.

University personnel who encounter boycott-related language in any transaction must contact the export controls officer immediately, before taking any further action. The countries in which to be especially cautious are:

• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Egypt
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen