May 7-8, 2024 – at the Movenpick Gammarth Hotel in Tunis, the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with
the American Chamber of Commerce Tunisia, research center Sandia National Laboratories, and non-profit
C4ADS hosted 17 representatives of Tunisian transport companies and law firms for a workshop aimed at building
sanctions risk management capacity.
The workshop included a diversified agenda, case studies, and tabletop discussions. Topics included an overview
of UN, EU, and US sanctions; risks of transacting with sanctioned entities; and monitoring for illicit practices in the
maritime and aviation industries. Instructors coached attendees on how to use dozens of online tools to help
perform due diligence checks and identify fraudulent documentation. Speakers also discussed international
requirements for company and vessel registration.
Participants were actively engaged throughout the workshop, saying their knowledge of sanctions had improved
tremendously. With Tunisia’s vast trade potential and based on the event’s success, AmCham will provide notice
of any follow-on workshops.
As American financial historian Peter L. Bernstein said, “Risk management means protecting oneself from the
adverse and unexpected decisions others may make, and in the process, making better decisions than they do.”