Under U.S. anti-boycott provisions, can a U.S. person refuse to do business with a boycotted country?

The correct answer is that a U.S. person cannot refuse to do business with a boycotted country unless they have a request from a customer to do so. Under U.S. anti-boycott provisions, particularly those enforced by the Department of Commerce, a U.S. person is prohibited from participating in or supporting foreign boycotts that the U.S. government does not endorse. However, if a customer requests that a U.S. person refuse to do business with a country that is subject to a boycott, then the U.S. person has the latitude to comply with that request without violating the anti-boycott laws. This framework ensures that while U.S. entities must comply with the law, they can also respond to the requests of their customers as long as those requests align with U.S. legal standards.

The focus on customer requests is significant because it aims to balance business relationships and compliance with U.S. laws. In contrast, other options might incorrectly suggest that refusing to do business under any circumstance, or regardless of customer demand, is permissible, which does not align with the actual legal framework.