Editor’s Note
The US has extended the deadline for its ban on “grandfathered” Russian diamonds by one year, moving the full implementation date to September 1, 2026. This adjustment aligns US sanctions more closely with the broader G7 timeline.
The United States has granted a one-year reprieve on its planned ban of “grandfathered” Russian diamonds, giving importers until September 1, 2026, before restrictions fully take effect.
The measure, originally set to begin on September 1, 2025, was imposed by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as part of sanctions on Russian-origin diamonds. The extension aligns the timeline more closely with the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ January 2026 deadline for implementing a global traceability mechanism.
Under the updated rule, diamonds already outside Russia — and not exported or re-exported from the country after specific cut-off dates — can continue entering the US until the new deadline. The ban applies to non-industrial rough and polished stones of 1.0 carat or larger purchased before March 1, 2024, and those of 0.50 carats or larger that had left Russia before September 1, 2024. Any diamonds still in Russia, or exported after those dates, remain prohibited.
Importers may self-certify purchase dates but could be asked by US Customs to provide documentation.
The US Department of the Treasury has also issued General License No. 104A, authorizing certain transactions related to these restricted imports under Presidential Executive Order No. 14068.