Cote d'Ivoire Turmoil Jeopardizes Coffee and Cocoa Trade with U.S. and E.U.

While the current U.S. and E.U. sanctions are targeted and are not directed against the country of Côte d’Ivoire generally or the entire Government of Côte d’Ivoire, as a practical matter, it may be difficult for U.S. and E.U. businesses to lawfully procure coffee or cocoa products from Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, U.S. and E.U. firms bear a heightened burden to adequately research their sources of coffee and cocoa to ensure they are not dealing in product that was unlawfully exported from Côte d’Ivoire in contravention of U.S or E.U. sanctions (as well as local restrictions).