The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview

Publication Date: March 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Banking and finance

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Abstract:

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, or the 9/11 Commission, recommended that tracking terrorist financing "must remain front and center in U.S. counterterrorism efforts." As part of these efforts, the United States plays a leading role in the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). The independent, intergovernmental policy-making body was established by the 1989 G-7 Summit in Paris as a result of growing concerns among the Summit participants about the threat posed to the international banking system by money laundering. After September 11, 2001, the body expanded its role to include identifying sources and methods of terrorist financing and adopted eight Special Recommendations on terrorist financing to track terrorists' funds. This report provides an overview of the Task Force and of its progress to date in gaining broad international support for its Recommendations. This report will be updated as warranted by events.