by Rachel K. Alpert, Julian J. Ginos, and Rebecca Fate
Last month’s confirmation hearings for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have shed more light on the Biden administration’s approach to key sanctions programs. At a high level, human rights considerations are expected to loom larger in sanctions strategy going forward. Other systemic changes may be afoot as well; Yellen plans to direct Adewale Adeyemo, the nominee for Deputy Treasury Secretary, to conduct an overall review of U.S. sanctions policy, and the Biden administration has also ordered a review of sanctions as possible hindrances to COVID-19 response efforts. Below are seven areas of interest along with key takeaways thus far.