Intel

Every week: the export-control, sanctions and customs changes that move regulated hardware shipments, and what they mean for the person who has to make them ship.

October 26, 2026

EU Charges per Line, Not per Parcel

European Union adds a €2 per-line handling fee. UK licensing unit flags control-list changes. US border agency delays postal mail entry rules. Russia prosecutions turn on hidden end users. Gulf air capacity falls again.

October 19, 2026

Europe Lists 1,600 Names, Forwarders Included

European Union lists nearly 1,600 names, forwarders and payment agents among them. US Treasury drops its warning-first policy for foreign banks. US trade commission opens a power-module import case. Gulf air capacity keeps shrinking.

October 14, 2026

Split Shipments, Taxed as One

EU court lets customs tax parts as the finished machine. UK export licensing pauses classification answers. US customs proposes low-value rules. US prosecutors target tariff evasion. Gulf air capacity drops a third.

October 5, 2026

Blacklist Expansion Slips to January

US Commerce delays its export blacklist expansion to January. US arms rules now explicitly catch onward transfers. Cathay Cargo screens goods descriptions with software. Air rates climb as contracts shorten.

September 28, 2026

Airlines Push Battery Checks Onto Shippers

Airline body pushes undeclared battery checks back onto the shipper. EU machinery regulation binds in January 2027. Swiss and UK Iran payment rules tighten. New air capacity opens into the Caucasus.

September 21, 2026

Russia Law, 18 October Deadline

New US Russia sanctions law starts a 30-day clock on non-US suppliers. Switzerland matches European Union measures on Belarus. European dual-use control list updated. Dutch settlement-goods import ban starts 22 September.

September 14, 2026

US Sanctions Freeze Turkish Airport Cargo

US Treasury sanctions halt cargo at four Turkish airports. UK Iran rules change 29 September. US duty probe reaches parts fitted in third countries. Heathrow backlog meets a thinner fourth-quarter freighter market.

September 7, 2026

US Customs Wants Your Export Filing

US border agency wants the export declaration you file at home. Washington widens the Iran net for non-US sellers. Drone tariffs go live. US investment screener chases unfiled deals. Air capacity out of Europe tightens.

August 31, 2026

US Blocks Listed Robots and Inverters

US telecoms regulator blocks listed robots and power inverters. Swiss Ukraine ordinance carries two September dates. New US order bars foreign-made grid equipment. US rail export manifests go electronic.

August 27, 2026

Switzerland Turns On Circumvention Controls

Switzerland switches on the EU anti-circumvention tool for Kyrgyzstan. Syria comes off the terror-sponsor list. BIS trims the Entity List. A major forwarder is probed over AI chip diversion.

August 24, 2026

UAVs: Easier to Export, Costlier to Import

BIS relaxes UAV export controls as Section 232 duties hit imports. Eleven nations flag DPRK IT workers as a deemed-export risk. OFAC settles with a precision instrument maker. CBP tightens importer-of-record checks.

August 17, 2026

UAE Reclassified: D:3/D:4 Gone, A:5 In

BIS reclassifies the UAE into Country Group A:5. The EU's 21st package adds 48 individuals and 170 entities. Eleven governments warn on DPRK remote workers. OFAC settles with a controlled instrumentation maker.

August 10, 2026

EU's 21st Sanctions Package: Screen Now, Not After 13 August

The EU's 21st package takes effect — screen before 13 August. The UAE's move to Country Group A:5 carries a narrower exception than it looks. Sudan is effectively closed to controlled-goods shipments.

August 3, 2026

EU's 21st Package Targets UAV Hardware and 216 Parties

The EU's 21st package adds 216 designations and targets UAV hardware. BIS moves the UAE to Country Group A:5. Sudan closes to Commerce Control List items under new State Department sanctions.

July 27, 2026

Quantum EO: Controls Are Coming

Executive Order 14411 signals quantum export controls ahead. The UAE joins Country Group A:5, opening new licence exceptions. OFAC designates the Shamkhani shipping network. Syria's SST clock runs, controls unchanged.

July 20, 2026

UAE Drops Off D:3 and D:4 — Licence Exceptions Now Apply

BIS moves the UAE out of Country Groups D:3 and D:4 into A:5. OFAC revokes Iran General Licence X, squeezing Gulf routing. OFAC and OFSI ownership tests diverge. Syria's SST rescission starts a 45-day clock.

July 13, 2026

Iran General License X: Wind-Down Closes 17 July

OFAC revokes Iran General Licence X, closing the wind-down on 17 July. OFAC and OFSI publish their first joint map of the two regimes. The UK consolidates dual-use open licensing.

July 6, 2026

UK Dual-Use OGEL: New Licence, New Destinations

The UK issues a consolidated dual-use Open General Export Licence. DOJ's first corporate declination lands with Bosch over an FDPR breach. A Russia-specific FDPR bill clears the House.

June 23, 2026

EU Package 21 Targets Drone and Dual-Use Tech

Von der Leyen previews an EU 21st package aimed at drone and dual-use technology. The UK designates 70 parties and names dual-use procurement networks. OFAC bars US persons from accepting Iranian safe passage.

June 15, 2026

FTI Consulting Hit for Sanctions Violations

OFAC settles with FTI Consulting over multi-programme violations. BIS keeps D:5 licensing live despite the AI rollback. USTR proposes forced-labour tariffs on 60 economies. CBP tightens foreign importer requirements.

June 8, 2026

USTR Targets 60 Economies with Forced Labor Tariffs

USTR opens Section 301 forced-labour investigations into 60 economies. BIS confirms D:5 computing controls still apply. CBP gains new powers over foreign importers. Switzerland implements only part of the EU package.

June 1, 2026

UK Banks Tighten Trade Finance Screening

The FCA finds systematic trade-finance sanctions weaknesses at UK banks. OFAC's Adani settlement raises the bar. Switzerland omits seven Chinese entities from the EU list. The US-Taiwan deal cuts Section 232 tariffs.

May 25, 2026

OFAC Hits Adani with Major Settlement

OFAC settles with Adani Enterprises. Executive Order 14404 extends Cuba secondary sanctions to foreign banks. DOJ indicts a container maker's CEO for price-fixing. The UK adds third-country end-use controls.

May 18, 2026

OFAC Targets Chinese "Teapot" Refineries in Iran Campaign

OFAC escalates against Chinese teapot refineries. China activates its blocking order on US Iran sanctions for the first time. Beijing fines major container lines. France's early parcel tax guts Vatry.

May 11, 2026

OFAC Targets Chinese Oil Refineries

OFAC warns banks on Chinese teapot refineries handling Iranian crude. Canada opens a 30-day chip export-control consultation. The EU clears vetoes on its 20th Russia package. US civil penalties stay unadjusted for 2026.

May 4, 2026

EU Cuts Off Kyrgyz Republic

The EU's 20th package cuts off the Kyrgyz Republic. Canada proposes controls on chipmaking equipment and high-end FPGAs. OFAC extends the Russian oil wind-down. Treasury sets stablecoin compliance rules.

April 27, 2026

EU Deploys Circumvention Tool Against Kyrgyz Republic

EU names the Kyrgyz Republic under its new circumvention tool. OFSI commits to deciding 90% of cases within 18 months. OTSI splits trade sanctions from dual-use licensing. OFAC designates cartel-linked services.

April 20, 2026

Hormuz Opens, but Still Risky

Hormuz reopens but stays risky for Gulf transits. DOJ centralises voluntary self-disclosure. EU halves tariff-free steel quotas from 1 July. OTSI takes over UK sanctioned-goods licensing.

April 13, 2026

Old Contracts, New Liability

UK court turns old contracts into live compliance risks. EU steel safeguards tighten 1 July. CBAM pricing is real at EUR 75.36/tonne. Gulf air freight still broken despite ceasefire headlines.

April 6, 2026

EU Customs Data Hub Eliminates Parallel Filing

EU Customs Hub reshapes filing. War risk surcharges spread unchecked. FCC bans Chinese equipment. OFSI marks 10 years with harder enforcement posture.

March 31, 2026

"Made in EU" Rules Reshape Deep-Tech Supply Chains

EU Made-in-EU procurement rules. USTR forced labor probes hit 60 countries. Salalah port closed after drone strike. Air charter rates at COVID highs.

March 23, 2026

OFSI Raises the Bar on Sanctions Licensing

OFSI licensing tightens with mandatory reports. USTR forced labor probes hit 60 countries. EU Industrial Accelerator fast-tracks domestic manufacturing. Gulf airspace 70% capacity loss.

March 9, 2026

UK Sanctions 240 Russian Entities — Screen Now

UK Russia sanctions wave demands immediate screening. BIS fines Teledyne FLIR $1M for thermal camera exports. Gulf air cargo rerouting. OFSI publishes licence priority framework.

March 3, 2026

UK Sanctions Enforcement Gets Teeth (and Mercy)

OFSI 70% penalty discount. BIS fines Teledyne FLIR $1M. Gulf closure strands 450K TEU. EU-Mercosur advances. US IEEPA tariff authority struck down.

February 23, 2026

US Tariff Authority Struck Down — Refund Exposure Unclear

IEEPA tariff ruling creates refund questions. OFSI 70% penalty discount launched. EU-Mercosur advances. Deutsche Bahn DDoS signals infrastructure vulnerability.

February 19, 2026

OFSI Consults on Beneficial Ownership Rules

OFSI ownership consultation shapes UK sanctions screening. EU-Mercosur tariff relief advances. EU gas import rules simplified for six countries. OFAC VSD portal launches.