TRADE Compliance

Traditional risks such as money laundering, corruption, terrorism financing (etc.) are today part of an unprecedented global risk constellation. Geopolitical tensions in the wake of the replacement of the traditional Western-dominated world order by a multipolar world order, new technologies (cyber, crypto, etc.), de-globalization and the disintegration of trade routes, are components of the current global polycrisis. Western actors are reacting to this with ever stricter trade compliance regulations and sanctions.

In this context, sanctions are being used in international politics at an increasing rate and ever more intensively. The USA and the EU, in particular, apply this tool in answer to global geopolitical tensions, bilateral conflicts and wars, and human rights violations by authoritarian regimes. At the same time, sanction regulations are becoming increasingly complex. After a first phase of enacting more and more new trade compliance and sanctions regulations since 2022, we have now entered a second phase. This is characterized by the closing of existing gaps. At the same time, the third phase is beginning, which is characterized by increasing enforcement, e.g. by the OFAC, the BIS, but also by the newly established Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA). They have already postulated that export controls and software-based risk checks and documentation alone will no longer suffice.

In the event of violations of sanctions and trade compliance provisions, this can lead to reputational risks, liability risks and financial risks due to blacklisting. Furthermore, companies with an opaque trade compliance profile run the risk of having their banking services terminated.

The solutions we offer

  • We carry out a gap analysis concerning your organization’s current processes, responsibilities and documentation standards.

  • We elevate traditional systems of export control to state of the art trade compliance systems.

  • We develop and implement trade compliance policies tailored to the specific needs of your organisation.

  • We provide a comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) profile on natural and legal persons (OSINT) meeting latest international standards.

  • We support your organisation with annual risk assessments and continous monitoring of sanctions regulations, trade flows, partners and clients.

  • We do sanctions screenings concerning your products and services.

  • We provide staff trainings and awareness raising meetings with your partners.

  • We provide support in case of red flags through special investigation projects (HUMINT), trade compliance due diligences, and compliance enforcement meetings with your partners.

  • We provide the certainty of operating in accordance with sanctions and trade compliance regulations in a business-friendly manner.