UK Sanctions & Export Compliance 2025

London, UK - Sean Mahan

Last week, SEIA attended the Sanctions & Export Compliance in the UK Conference in London. The event brought together organizations involved in international trade to discuss current regulatory developments and to exchange perspectives on shared compliance challenges. This year, much of the discussion focused on participants from European, British, and American companies comparing how they are working to manage increasingly complex U.S. regulations during a period of heightened geopolitical sensitivity.

Speakers and attendees examined also topics such as:

·       Expanded controls affecting strategic sectors related to China

·       The practical difficulties of end-use and end-user verification

·       Recent movements surrounding the proposed 50 percent rule

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the integration of compliance into broader business decision making. Presenters discussed how to communicate the strategic value of compliance to leadership, how to manage evolving tariffs and sanctions, and how to strengthen internal controls under resource constraints. Challenges around origin determination, product classification, routing decisions, and enforcement trends were also central points of discussion.

These conversations highlighted that export control compliance is no longer a narrow administrative task. The pace of regulatory change requires companies to adapt internal processes, clarify roles between compliance and commercial teams, and ensure that decisions reflect both market objectives and regulatory risk. Collaboration across departments is becoming essential for maintaining operational resilience and sustaining access to international markets.

SEIA's Erika Trujillo presents on Leveraging Data for Communication

Another key part of the conference included a presentation from SEIA on how trade compliance can function most effectively when it is aligned with the priorities of the business. Our presentation highlighted that compliance teams are most successful when they understand which deals, customers, and operational processes are most critical for achieving organizational goals. By establishing early coordination with sales, finance, procurement, and logistics, compliance teams can anticipate licensing needs, identify red flags before they delay transactions, and support commercial efforts rather than reacting only once issues arise. The emphasis was on positioning compliance as a practical enabler of smooth operations and predictable outcomes. This approach encourages shared ownership of compliance responsibilities across the organization, contributing to stronger control environments and fewer costly disruptions.

To learn more, check out our article on Bridging Gaps and Building Trust: Leveraging Data for Strategic Communication.

For SEIA, the conference provided an opportunity to compare approaches with peers and assess how internal practices align with emerging expectations. The discussions reinforced the importance of consistent documentation, disciplined due diligence, and proactive awareness of policy developments. They also underscored the value of maintaining open communication channels between compliance and operational teams. The conversations in London demonstrated how ongoing dialogue plays a key role in navigating complexity and supporting responsible global trade.

We hope to see you next year, or at another of the upcoming conference events. Check out our calendar to see what’s on this year.