Views sought on direction of UK sanctions policy after Brexit

The UK Parliament’s Commons Select Committee has launched an inquiry on the future of UK sanctions policy (5 November). After Brexit, the UK’s legal sanctions framework will be governed by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. The inquiry will ‘explore and evaluate’ possible variants in the UK’s approach to sanctions policy after leaving the EU. The Committee seeks written submissions on a number of issues:

• ‘The effectiveness of sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy, including examples of both successful and unsuccessful use of sanctions to influence the behaviour of foreign actors
• The advantages and disadvantages of the EU’s approach to the use of sanctions, both generally and in specific cases (such as Russia)
• How the USA sets and uses sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy, and the advantages and disadvantages of its approach particularly where that differs from the EU
• How the UK might best make use of the Magnitsky powers included in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018
• The extent to which the UK should seek to align with the EU in sanctions policy post-Brexit, versus areas in which it may wish to diverge or seek stronger sanctions
• The FCO’s record in:

• Identifying individuals, companies and regimes that should be sanctioned;
• Linking specific sanctions recommendations to broader foreign policy goals; and,
• Working with other departments, agencies and the private sector to share intelligence and implement sanctions effectively.

• The use of sanctions alongside other tools designed to combat dirty money, such as unexplained wealth orders.’

The deadline for written submissions is 14 December 2018.

For more information see:
https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/global-britain-sanctions-policy-inquiry-launch-17-19/