GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 12, 2026

sanctions law

Sanctions law governs the legal mechanisms by which governments impose, enforce, and lift restrictions on trade, finance, and conduct with designated countries, entities, and individuals.

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Last updated: 12 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regulations/sanctions/

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Definition & Explanation

Sanctions law governs the legal mechanisms by which governments impose, enforce, and lift restrictions on trade, finance, and conduct with designated countries, entities, and individuals. For freight forwarders and logistics providers, compliance with sanctions regimes is non-negotiable: they must screen all shipment endpoints, intermediaries, and goods for designation under international or unilateral sanction programmes (OFAC, EU, UN, UK, etc.). The field encompasses statutory prohibition frameworks (embargoes, export controls, asset freezes), enforcement authority (customs, financial intelligence units), and criminal or administrative penalties for violations. Sanctions law differs from general export control in that it pursues targeted foreign policy and security objectives through economic coercion rather than proliferation prevention alone.