U.S. prepares list of Turkey economic sanctions targets - Bloomberg

Bloomberg says, the sanctions are being prepared under the Global Magnitsky Act of 2016, which allows the U.S. government to target individuals, companies or other entities involved in corruption or human-rights abuses anywhere in the world
Pedestrians on a street in Istanbul, Turkey. Photographer: Kostas Tsironis/Bloomberg
Wednesday, 01 August 2018 18:56

The U.S. has prepared a list of Turkish entities and individuals that it will target should it decide to impose sanctions on Ankara for imprisoning U.S. citizens and employees of its diplomatic mission, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported. 

According to the report, the sanctions are modelled on those targeting Russia, the unnamed sources said.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced possible sanctions against Turkey, in retaliation for the treatment of Andrew Craig Brunson, who was detained in the aftermath of a failed 2016 coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The pastor is now under house arrest.

The U.S. has repeatedly extended deadlines to release Brunson or face sanctions, according to Turkish and U.S. officials familiar with the talks. The people and entities determined in the designation packages would need to be approved by the Treasury secretary and secretary of state, the report added. 

Bloomberg says, the sanctions are being prepared under the Global Magnitsky Act of 2016, which allows the U.S. government to target individuals, companies or other entities involved in corruption or human-rights abuses anywhere in the world. Sanctions under the act allow for the seizure of assets in the U.S., travel bans and prohibitions on doing business with U.S. entities, the report said. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his U.S. counterpart Michael Pompeo held a phone call on Wednesday, as the ministers attended an ASEAN meeting in Singapore.

This is the third conversation held between Çavuşoğlu and Pompeo on the matter since U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if U.S Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson is not released.