Worldwide: Export Controls & Trade & Investment Sanctions

The global sulfuric acid market is in the middle of a supply shock not seen since 2008. Two independent events—the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping since late February 2026 and China’s reported export prohibition on sulfuric acid effective May 1, 2026...

Export control is an interesting field of law enforcement. Every case is international in nature, and often the targets include multinational corporations. As the scale of the company increases so do the number of transactions and their dollar value. Add to that the evergreen tradition of new administrations announcing a refocus on enforcement, which often includes a promise to hold executive management responsible for violative behavior in their remit, but rarely follow through.

This comprehensive sanctions update covers major developments across US, UK, EU, and Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, including President Trump's expanded Cuba sanctions framework...

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has fundamentally transformed foreign investment rules for nuclear facilities in the United States, allowing entities from 37 countries to bypass previous ownership restrictions.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control maintains the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, a powerful sanctions tool that can result in asset freezes and transaction prohibitions.

The EU adopts its 20th sanctions package against Russia, introducing sweeping measures across energy, finance, trade, and military sectors while targeting shadow fleet operations and crypto-asset service providers.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has launched a new wave of sanctions targeting Iranian missile and drone procurement networks spanning multiple countries. This action, part of the Economic Fury campaign, designates 14 individuals and entities involved in weapons procurement and transportation, while blocking aircraft and companies linked to Iran's ballistic missile program.

As global tensions escalate, the Trump administration launches "Economic Fury"—a sweeping financial pressure campaign targeting Iran's oil networks and regional proxies.

A BIS investigation is one of the most serious enforcement risks in international trade. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, enforces the Export Administration Regulations (EAR): the rules that control how U.S.-origin goods, software, and technology can be exported, reexported, or transferred between countries.