The United States says a new executive order signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday is a continuation of existing sanctions.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Tuesday that Executive Order 13551 is a continuation of existing sanctions under the Arms Control Export Act. The decree bans the direct or indirect imports of goods, service and technologies from North Korea.

Toner made the remark after being asked to provide some context on the United State’s recent blacklisting of North Korea’s Bank of East Land, which followed shortly after the new order became effective.

Toner added that imports from North Korea amounted to roughly nine-thousand dollars last year.