US imposes new Crimea trade restrictions, sanctions

US President Barack Obama has issued an executive order imposing new restrictions on investment and trade with Crimea and introducing new sanctions against certain individuals operating in the region, Sputnik reports.

According to a White House statement issued Friday, Obama's executive order "prohibits the export of goods, technology, or services to Crimea and prohibits the import of goods, technology, or services from Crimea, as well as new investments in Crimea."

The executive order "also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions on individuals and entities operating in Crimea," the statement said.

According to the US Treasury Department, Crimean Prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya, as well as the heads of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Luhansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR) — Igor Plotnitsky and Alexander Zakharchenko — are included on the sanctions list.

On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to amend a regulation, concerning Europe's restrictive measures introduced in response to Crimea's reunification with Russia.

The amendment stipulates a ban on all foreign investments in Crimea or Sevastopol.