Master international trade compliance, decode complex global sanctions, and prevent costly violations with practical risk management strategies.
International trade compliance has become increasingly complex as organisations face expanding sanctions regimes, export control restrictions, dual-use goods regulations, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. What was once considered a specialist issue for defence contractors now affects manufacturers, technology companies, logistics providers, financial institutions, professional services firms, and exporters operating across global markets. A failure to identify licensing requirements or sanctions exposure can result in significant financial, regulatory, and reputational consequences.
This session examines the practical challenges of managing export control and sanctions compliance in an evolving geopolitical environment. Participants will explore how export licensing frameworks operate, how sanctions risks arise in commercial transactions, and what organisations should be doing to identify, assess, and mitigate trade compliance exposure. The session focuses on practical decision-making, risk assessment, and compliance strategies that can be applied across a wide range of industries engaged in international trade.
Key Topics Discussed:
The changing global trade compliance landscape
Export controls and licensing fundamentals
Dual-use goods and technology transfers
Strategic goods and controlled items
UK, EU, US, and international sanctions frameworks
Customer and end-user due diligence
End-use and destination risk assessment
Screening and monitoring requirements
Trade compliance governance and internal controls
Customs, sanctions, and export control intersections
Investigations, enforcement, and penalties
Lessons from recent compliance failures
Customs, Excise & VAT Consultant | PORTCULLIS ISC
Mark Rowbotham is an International Consultant, Trainer and writer in Customs and VAT Compliance issues, as well as other areas including International Trade, Excise, Export Controls, Oil & Gas Offshore and Marine issues. He has spent a considerable length of time working in both the Government, Commercial and Academic sectors. He deals primarily with Compliance, Control and Procedural issues in Customs, Excise and VAT, and is a trainer in these issues as well as International Trade, the Supply Chain, Finance and Risk Management courses. He was originally an Officer in HM Customs & Excise, dealing with Import and Export Controls on maritime freight traffic into and out of UK Ports, and became an independent consultant and trainer in 2000, dealing primarily with Customs compliances, procedures and documentation. He advises on these issues, and undertakes training, advisory and consultancy work in these areas. He gained a Masters’ Degree in International Relations and Political Economy in 1995, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), as well as a member of the Institute of Export in the UK. He has written extensively on the subjects of Customs, International Supply Chain and Marine Compliance issues for a wide variety of International Trade and Logistics publications and journals, and has had a book published in 2008, entitled “Introduction to Marine Cargo Management”, Second Edition published 2015. He also advises several Chambers of Commerce in the UK on Customs, VAT and International Trade issues, frequently delivering advice, training courses and seminars on these subjects. He is an accredited trainer for the British Chambers of Commerce, and has also been an adviser to UK Trade & Investment (now DIT) on Customs Procedures pertaining to trade with the Americas.
