Key takeaways

• In recent years, the Obama administration has made significant changes to U.S. sanctions regimes, including relaxing US sanctions related to Cuba and Iran, and imposing new sanctions on Russia.
• President-elect Trump has been critical of many of these changes and appears to be employing advisers and staffing his Cabinet with those who share his views.
• Because the Obama administration’s changes were implemented through executive action, President-elect Trump will have substantial discretion to unwind many of the changes.