New Trade Sanctions Enforcement: Implications for Business Compliance

Our Member Benefits partner Amiqus discusses the UK’s new sanctions enforcement regime, which gives the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) the power to issue significant penalties.

In the ever-evolving international trade landscape, recent developments in the UK’s sanctions enforcement regime have significant implications for businesses operating globally. In this article, Amiqus explores the new enforcement powers granted to the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), the importance of sanctions screening, and the role of comprehensive compliance tools in mitigating risks.

Strengthened Enforcement Powers

On October 10, the UK’s Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) received enhanced enforcement powers, marking a significant shift in regulating and enforcing trade, aircraft, and shipping sanctions. These new powers include:

• Authority to issue monetary penalties
• Ability to impose civil sanctions for sanctions breaches
• Increased maximum penalties of £1 million or 50% of the estimated breach value, whichever is higher
  
  

Understanding the New Civil Enforcement Guidance

The Trade, Aircraft and Shipping Sanctions Civil Enforcement Guidance provides clarity on the enforcement process and outlines OTSI’s approach to investigating breaches. It also allows companies to understand their responsibilities and avoid penalties for non-compliance. Key aspects of the guidance include:

• Investigation procedures for potential breaches
• Methodology for calculating fines
• New reporting obligations for ‘relevant persons’ regarding suspected breaches
  
  

The Importance of Sanctions Screening (and Monitoring)

In light of these new developments, sanctions screening has become more critical for businesses than ever. Here’s why:

• Ensures compliance with growing regulatory requirements
• Prevents engagement with sanctioned individuals, entities, or countries
• Protects against severe penalties and reputational damage
• Maintains smooth business operations

Effective screening involves thorough due diligence when onboarding new clients or entering business relationships, checking against updated lists of sanctioned parties.

Comprehensive Risk Management: PEPs, Sanctions, and Adverse Media

Businesses must also consider other checks as part of broader due diligence processes, especially when dealing with high-risk clients. These checks are:

Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) Screening:

• Identifies individuals in prominent public positions
• Mitigates risks associated with potential corruption or financial crimes

Adverse Media Screening:

• Checks for negative news reports or public information
• Highlights potential reputational or legal risks not captured in official sanction lists
  
  

Leveraging Amiqus for Effective Risk Management

To navigate this complex regulatory landscape, businesses can benefit from Amiqus’ compliance capabilities on offer, which include:

• Automated sanctions and PEPs screening against global databases: gain extensive global coverage by accessing thousands of lists, including individual country lists and watchlists from OFAC, Interpol, UN Sanctions list, and more.
  
  
• Comprehensive adverse media screening using AI and machine learning: leverage technology to scan over 150 million print and online media articles.
  
  
• Ongoing monitoring capabilities for continuous risk assessment: conduct daily searches on high-risk individuals.
  
  
• Simplified, auditable compliance processes: all compliance activities are documented with a date and time-stamped audit trail, ensuring a reliable record for audits or inspections.
  
  

By integrating Amiqus into its compliance framework, businesses can effectively manage sanctions-related risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect their reputation in the global marketplace.

In conclusion, the new trade sanctions enforcement regime in the UK highlights the need for businesses to prioritise comprehensive compliance measures.

Companies can navigate the complex world of international trade with confidence and security by understanding the new guidelines, implementing robust screening processes, and leveraging compliance tools such as Amiqus.

If you’d like to find out more about sanctions screening solutions for your firm, speak to the Amiqus team today.