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Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026

Letter from the Minister for Trade relating to Sanctions End-Use Controls, dated 23 April 2026

From: Foreign Affairs Committee

Summary

Minister for Trade Chris Bryant informs the Foreign Affairs Committee that the UK Government has legislated to introduce Sanctions End-Use Controls (SEUC), effective 12 May 2026. This new power enables the UK to prevent diversion of sanctioned goods through third countries to Russia and other sanctioned destinations, operating through case-by-case licensing to minimise administrative burden while targeting exports at credible circumvention risk.

Key findings

  • Government has legislated Sanctions End-Use Controls (SEUC) to tackle Russian sanctions circumvention, coming into force 12 May 2026
  • SEUC allows the UK to subject exports not already captured by export controls to licensing requirements where credible diversion risk to sanctioned destinations is identified
  • Licensing will operate on case-by-case basis to minimise administrative impact, with most exports proceeding unimpeded
  • Government has published comprehensive guidance on exports at greater diversion risk and steps businesses can take to manage compliance
  • Measure builds on prior sanctions enforcement review and expands UK sanctions enforcement toolkit

Tone

Procedural

Topics

sanctions-enforcementtrade-controlsexport-controlsinternational-relations

Key actors

Sir Chris Bryant MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Department for Business and Trade, Foreign Affairs Committee, Russia

Notable line

“Russia is going to great lengths to circumvent our sanctions and obtain these goods.”

Key Quotes

“The UK and our allies' collective sanctions have deprived Russia of the critical components, machinery and technology needed to support their illegal war.”
— Sir Chris Bryant MP · Opening statement on effectiveness of existing sanctions
“These new powers will allow us to subject exports of concern that are not already captured by export controls to a licensing requirement prior to export from the UK.”
— Sir Chris Bryant MP · Explaining scope of SEUC legislation
“The licensing process will operate on a case-by-case basis, minimising unnecessary impact and targeting only those exports with credible risk of diversion.”
— Sir Chris Bryant MP · Describing approach to minimising administrative burden
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗