United States Minor Outlying Islands: sanctions and trade risk

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As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to United States Minor Outlying Islands.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for United States Minor Outlying Islands in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in United States Minor Outlying Islands may still be on a list.

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Logistics profile

United States Minor Outlying Islands: logistics and trade

Uninhabited US outlying areas (nature conservation / military)

The United States Minor Outlying Islands (ISO code: UM) are a statistical grouping of nine small, mostly uninhabited islands and atolls of the United States. Eight lie in the Pacific (Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake) and one in the Caribbean (Navassa). With the exception of Palmyra, they are unincorporated, unorganised US territories administered directly from Washington, DC. Most are managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior as National Wildlife Refuges and form part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Wake Island is administered by the US Air Force. There is no indigenous or permanent population; entry is generally closed and only possible with a special-use permit (USFWS Special Use Permit or USAF authorisation), mostly for science and conservation. Economically the islands play no commercial role: there is no production and no regular foreign trade. Logistics is limited to government and military supply and research operations. Port and airfield infrastructure exists only at a few sites and is mostly military or dedicated to emergency landings (e.g. Wake Island Airfield, Henderson Field on Midway). The currency is the US dollar (USD). The islands are primarily of ecological, geographic and strategic importance.

Capital: none
Area: 34 km²
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Continent: Oceania
Region: Pacific / Caribbean
Economic area: US outlying area (directly administered by the federal government)
Religions: None
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air

Current situation: Johnston Atoll airfield closed since 2005; Midway (Henderson Field) closed to visitors since 2002, serves as an emergency landing site; Wake used militarily. As of June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical maritime conditions in the Pacific with typhoon and storm risk; Navassa in the Caribbean with hurricane season roughly June to November. Storm risk for sea and air transport.

Main cargo airports

Wake Island AirfieldAWK
Wake Island Airfield (AWK) serves as a key logistics hub connecting international air freight and cargo operations efficiently.
Henderson FieldMDY
Henderson Field (MDY/PMDY), Midway Atoll: ETOPS emergency diversion field in a wildlife refuge, no scheduled or cargo service. Air freight via Honolulu (HNL).

Road corridors

Wake Island: internal access roads at the airfield

Main trade lanes

USA (mainland / Hawaii) - outposts (government and military logistics)

Customs and import

Customs authority No local customs authority; federal administration by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), for Wake by the US Air Force. US federal responsibility (including CBP).Official website ↗

Import customs system: No regular commercial goods traffic. Supplies are handled through government and military logistics. Access only with a special permit (USFWS Special Use Permit or USAF authorization).
Export customs system: No commercial exports; the islands are uninhabited and have no production. Goods movements involve research and supply goods under US federal responsibility.
Import VAT: No VAT and no local sales tax. There is no separate tax or customs administration; the areas are administered directly by US federal authorities.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: No free trade agreement and no commercial trade. US regulations apply as these are US territories; origin questions practically do not arise due to the lack of production.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Access generally prohibited; entry only with a USFWS special permit (mostly research) or USAF authorization. Strict nature conservation and biosecurity requirements; additionally US prohibitions apply.

Typical import documents

US government / military logistics documentation
USFWS Special Use Permit (access)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Port congestion: Low
Dangerous goods relevance: Low

Trade

Top import partners

United States

Top export partners

United States

Top import goods

Research goods

Top export goods

None

Typical cargo

Supply goods (fuel, water, food)
Research equipment
Construction materials for bases

Logistics questions

Which islands belong to the American Overseas Islands?

These include nine US outlying areas: in the Pacific, Baker, Howland and Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Wake Island, and in the Caribbean, the island of Navassa. They are mostly uninhabited.

Is there commercial trade or regular movement of goods?

No. The islands are uninhabited and have no production; there is no regular commercial import or export. Goods movements are limited to government, military and research logistics.

Who administers the islands?

Most of the islands are administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior as National Wildlife Refuges and belong to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Wake Island is under the US Air Force.

Is there value added tax (VAT) or import duties?

There is no separate tax or customs administration and no VAT. The areas are administered directly by US federal authorities; because there is no commercial trade, practically no import duties are payable.

Are there ports or airports?

There are no commercial cargo ports. Airfields include the military-used Wake Island Airfield and Henderson Field on Midway, which serves as an emergency landing site. The Johnston Atoll airfield has been closed since 2005.

How does one get to the islands?

Access is generally prohibited. Entry is only possible with a special permit, usually a USFWS Special Use Permit (mostly for research and nature conservation) or an authorization from the US Air Force for Wake Island.

What logistical risks exist?

The islands are extremely remote and have no commercial supply lines. In addition, there are strict nature conservation and access restrictions, as well as storm and typhoon risks in the Pacific and the hurricane season in the Caribbean (roughly June to November).

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