A Primer on Trade Controls for Compliance Professionals: The Enforcement Landscape, Anti-Corruption Report
August 12, 2026Anti-Corruption Report spoke with partner Michael Huneke about the expanding US trade controls enforcement landscape, including the roles of federal agencies and the potential consequences for companies that violate sanctions, export controls, and other trade requirements.
Mike highlighted the increasing financial and criminal exposure associated with trade controls violations.
“The trend is that trade controls are moving from more small-value, administrative penalties to potentially significant penalties including criminal fines or imprisonment,” he said, noting that penalties “can get quite high” given the volume and value of global trade.
Mike added that the potential exposure can “help in-house trade compliance teams make the value proposition for increased investment in risk-based trade compliance.”