Can my Addis Ababa company export coffee to a sanctioned country without violating bank rules?

In Ethiopia
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2026
I run a coffee export business in Addis Ababa and a buyer is in a country that some banks treat as high risk. Our bank is asking for sanctions screening documents before processing payments. What checks and paperwork do we need to avoid breaching sanctions or export control restrictions?

Lawyer Answers

Samuel Mekonnen Law Office

Samuel Mekonnen Law Office

Jan 20, 2026

Thank you for your question.


To provide a conclusive answer/recommendation for this question, you address the following issues. 1st, knowing the type of the sanction imposed on the coffee-importing country. There are various types of sanctions. For example, financial service/banking sanctions, trade/import and export trade sanctions, etc. The have different legal implications for business. 2nd, we must identify the country or intergovernmental organisation imposing the sanction and their relation with Ethiopia in enforcing the sanction against the coffee importing country.   3rd, we must look at sanction resolution itself to explore how to comply with the sanction (documents to provide) and what really constitutes the breach of the sanction.


In general, you are well advised to hire an international trade lawyer to get conclusive and actionable recommendations. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our law firm practising in this area of law.

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