Trade Screening Intelligence - Consolidated Screening List

Screen entities against 12+ US government restricted party lists using the Trade.gov Consolidated Screening List API. Perform single entity screening, batch screening of multiple parties, list composition analysis, and generate comprehensive compliance reports — capability that typically requires expensive subscriptions to services like Descartes Visual Compliance ($10K-$50K/year).

What This Actor Does

This actor connects to the official Trade.gov Consolidated Screening List (CSL) API to screen entities against all major US government restricted party lists. The CSL consolidates 12+ export screening lists from the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury into a single searchable database. Essential for any company engaged in international trade, export compliance, or due diligence.

Features

• Single Entity Screening: Screen any person, company, or entity against all restricted party lists with risk assessment
• Batch Screening: Screen multiple entities at once with consolidated risk report
• List Analysis: Analyze composition and statistics of screening lists by country, type, and source
• Compliance Reports: Generate comprehensive compliance reports with risk levels and recommendations
• Risk Classification: Automatic HIGH/MEDIUM/CLEAR risk assessment based on list severity
• 12+ Screening Lists: SDN, Entity List, DPL, UVL, FSE, ISN, SSI, CAPTA, ITAR, CMC, and more
• Pay-Per-Event Pricing: Only $0.05 per successful analysis

Screening Lists Covered

List Code	Full Name	Agency
SDN	Specially Designated Nationals	OFAC (Treasury)
EL	Entity List	BIS (Commerce)
DPL	Denied Persons List	BIS (Commerce)
UVL	Unverified List	BIS (Commerce)
FSE	Foreign Sanctions Evaders	OFAC (Treasury)
ISN	Nonproliferation Sanctions	State Dept
SSI	Sectoral Sanctions	OFAC (Treasury)
CMC	Chinese Military Companies	OFAC (Treasury)
MEU	Military End-User List	BIS (Commerce)
CAPTA	CAPTA List	Treasury
ITAR	ITAR Debarred	DDTC (State)
561	561 List	OFAC (Treasury)

Analysis Modes

1. entity_screening — Screen Single Entity

Screens a single entity name against all consolidated screening lists. Returns all matches with detailed information including addresses, IDs, programs, and an automatic risk assessment.

Output includes:

• All matching entries with full details
• Risk level assessment (CLEAR/MEDIUM/HIGH)
• Compliance recommendation
• Breakdown by source list

2. batch_screening — Screen Multiple Entities

Screens multiple comma-separated entity names against all lists. Provides individual and aggregate risk assessments.

Output includes:

• Per-entity match count and risk level
• Top matches for each entity
• Aggregate risk summary
• Clear vs. flagged entity counts

3. list_analysis — List Statistics

Analyzes the composition and distribution of screening list entries. Shows breakdowns by source list, country, and entity type.

Output includes:

• Entry count per screening list
• Country distribution
• Entity type breakdown (individual, entity, vessel, aircraft)
• Top countries per list

4. compliance_report — Full Compliance Report

Generates a comprehensive compliance report for an entity, searching across both entity and individual types. Provides detailed risk assessment, recommendations, and a compliance disclaimer.

Output includes:

• Overall risk assessment with detailed explanation
• Compliance recommendations tailored to risk level
• Lists matched with full names
• Countries and programs involved
• Legal disclaimer

Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
mode	string	Yes	entity_screening	Analysis mode to run
searchTerm	string	No	Huawei	Entity name(s) to screen (comma-separated for batch)
country	string	No	—	Country filter (ISO 2-letter code)
listSource	string	No	—	Filter by specific list (e.g., SDN, EL)
entityType	string	No	all	Entity type filter
limit	integer	No	50	Maximum results per search (1-500)
tradeGovApiKey	string	No	—	Trade.gov API key (free from developer.trade.gov)

Getting an API Key

1. Visit https://api.trade.gov/apps/register
2. Subscribe to the Consolidated Screening List API
3. Copy your API key
4. Paste it into the tradeGovApiKey input field

The API key is free and provides access to all Trade.gov APIs.

Example Output

{
    "source": "Trade.gov Consolidated Screening List API",
    "mode": "entity_screening",
    "title": "Screening Results — \"Huawei\"",
    "summary": {
        "searchTerm": "Huawei",
        "totalMatches": 152,
        "riskLevel": "HIGH",
        "recommendation": "HIGH RISK: Entity matches restricted party list(s). Do NOT proceed without legal review.",
        "listsMatched": [
            { "list": "EL", "fullName": "Entity List (BIS)", "count": 148 },
            { "list": "SDN", "fullName": "Specially Designated Nationals (OFAC)", "count": 4 }
        ]
    },
    "matches": [
        {
            "name": "Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.",
            "type": "entity",
            "source": "EL",
            "sourceFullName": "Entity List (BIS)",
            "country": "CN"
        }
    ],
    "riskLevel": "HIGH",
    "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Use Cases

• Export Compliance: Screen business partners before engaging in international trade
• KYC/AML Due Diligence: Check counterparties against sanctions and denied party lists
• Supply Chain Risk: Verify suppliers are not on restricted party lists
• Financial Compliance: Banks and financial institutions screening wire transfers and account holders
• Legal Due Diligence: Law firms screening clients and transaction parties
• Insurance Underwriting: Verify policyholders against sanctions lists
• Government Contracting: Screen subcontractors and vendors for ITAR/EAR compliance

Cost Comparison

Solution	Annual Cost	Coverage
Descartes Visual Compliance	$10,000 - $50,000	Trade compliance screening
Dow Jones Risk & Compliance	$15,000 - $50,000	Sanctions screening
LexisNexis WorldCompliance	$10,000 - $30,000	Global screening
This Actor	$0.05/query	US government screening lists

Technical Details

• Runtime: Node.js 22
• Timeout: 30 seconds per API call with 3 retries
• Rate Limits: Respects Trade.gov API rate limits with delays for batch operations
• Error Handling: Graceful error handling with per-entity error reporting in batch mode
• Pricing: $0.05 per successful analysis (pay-per-event)

Important Notes

• The Consolidated Screening List is updated regularly by US government agencies. Always verify critical decisions against the most current data.
• This tool does not constitute legal advice. Consult qualified trade compliance counsel for definitive guidance.
• The 50% rule (OFAC) means entities 50%+ owned by SDN-listed parties are also blocked, even if not explicitly listed.
• Screening results should be part of a broader compliance program, not a standalone solution.

Changelog

• 1.0.0 — Initial release with 4 analysis modes