October 31, 1985
To the Congress of the United States:
On May 1, 1985, in Executive Order No. 12513, I declared a national emergency to deal with the
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the policies and
actions of the Government of Nicaragua. In that order, I prohibited: (1) all imports into the
United States of goods and services of Nicaraguan origin; (2) all exports from the United States
of goods to or destined for Nicaragua except those destined for the organized democratic
resistance; (3) Nicaraguan air carriers from engaging in air transportation to or from points in the
United States; and (4) vessels of Nicaraguan registry from entering United States ports.
The declaration of emergency was made pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and laws of the United States, including the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. I
reported the declaration to the Congress on May 1, 1985, pursuant to Section 1703(b) of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury issued the Nicaraguan
Trade Control Regulations implementing the prohibitions in Executive Order No. 12513 on May
8, 1985, 50 Fed. Reg. 19890 (May 10, 1985). I am enclosing a copy of these regulations with this
report.
It should be noted that Section 540.505 permits the issuance of licenses authorizing the export of
goods from the United States to Nicaragua in certain circumstances involving contractual
obligations which the exporter incurred prior to May 1, 1985. The regulation provides that such
exports may be authorized only through October 31, 1985. Once this deadline has passed, licenses
for exports on prior contractual grounds will no longer be available.
The policies and actions of the Government of Nicaragua continue to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. I shall
continue to exercise the powers at my disposal to apply economic sanctions against Nicaragua as
long as these measures are appropriate, and will continue to report periodically to the Congress
on significant developments, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1703(c).
Ronald Reagan
The White House,
October 31, 1985.