Sanctions vs. Export Controls: Understanding the Difference

Introduction

Sanctions and export controls are often mentioned in the samebreath, but they are distinct legal regimes with different purposes, differentauthorities, and different compliance obligations. Confusing the two — orassuming that compliance with one means compliance with the other — is a commonand costly mistake. This course draws a clear line between the two frameworks,explains how they interact in practice, and equips compliance professionals andbusiness teams with the conceptual clarity they need to manage botheffectively.

Who ThisCourse Is For

This course is aimed at compliance, legal, trade, andoperations professionals who encounter both sanctions and export controls intheir work but want a clearer understanding of how the two regimes differ andoverlap. It is suitable for those who have completed introductory courses oneither topic and want to consolidate their knowledge.

WhatYou'll Learn

•      The core legal and policy differences between sanctionsand export controls

•      The different government bodies responsible for eachregime

•      How each regime defines prohibited conduct and who issubject to it

•      How sanctions and export controls can overlap in asingle transaction

•      Practical examples where both regimes applysimultaneously

•      How to build a compliance approach that addresses bothregimes

CourseStructure

Format: Live onlinesession with Q&A, also available as on-demand recording

Duration: 1 hour

Level: Beginner

Assessment: Noformal assessment — attendance certificate issued on completion

Technical Requirements

This course is compatible with most operating systems andmodern web browsers. Live sessions are delivered via video conferencing.On-demand recordings are accessible via the course platform. A stable internetconnection is recommended. If you experience access issues, please contact yourorganisation's IT department or the course provider.

‍Course Content

1. Foundations: What EachRegime Does

•      Sanctions: restricting dealings with designatedpersons, entities, and territories

•      Export controls: regulating the movement of controlledgoods and technology

•      Different legal bases and enforcement authorities

•      Who administers sanctions vs export controls in the US,EU, and UK

2. Scope and Application

•      Who is subject to sanctions? Who is subject to exportcontrols?

•      Jurisdictional reach: where each regime applies

•      The role of nationality, location, and product origin

•      US secondary sanctions: a unique extraterritorialdimension

3. Where They Overlap

•      Transactions that trigger both regimes simultaneously

•      Countries subject to both comprehensive sanctions andexport restrictions

•      Designated persons who are also restricted end-users

•      Case example: a dual-use export to a sanctioned party

4. Compliance Implications

•      Separate screening and due diligence obligations

•      Licence requirements under each regime

•      Internal escalation: different teams, differentprocesses

•      Building an integrated approach to sanctions and exportcontrol compliance

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