Committee Inquiry on the future of UK sanctions policy

The UK Foreign Affairs Committee has launched an Inquiry to explore and evaluate the different options for the UK’s approach to sanctions policy after Brexit – see Global Britain: The future of UK sanctions policy inquiry.

The Committee is inviting written submissions which address the following areas (deadline, 14 December 2018):

• 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 e.g. 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.