Ein Embargo regelt Verbote und Einschränkungen bei der Aus- und Einfuhr von Waren. Dabei wird ein Embargo nicht immer für einen bestimmten Staat verhängt, sondern kann als Teilembargo auch bestimmte Güter betreffen oder auch gegen Personen- beziehungsweise Personengruppen verhängt werden. Einem Embargo liegen meist politische Differenzen oder Ziele zugrunde. Häufig will man damit erreichen, dass ein Staat in einem Konflikt zum Einlenken bewegt wird.

Trade Compliance

Q: What is Trade Compliance?

Trade Compliance beschäftigt sich mit der Einhaltung von Vorschriften und Gesetzen im Außenhandel. Dabei müssen verschiedene Regelwerke wie beispielsweise Kontrollen bestimmter Waren, Sanktionen und Embargos berücksichtigt werden.

Q: Why is trade compliance important?

Die Einhaltung von gesetzlichen Vorgaben zu Außenhandelsbeziehungen ist für Unternehmen verpflichtend. Ein Verstoß kann Geldstrafen und andere rechtliche Konsequenzen nach sich ziehen, die für Unternehmen mitunter existenzbedrohend sein können. Auch im kleinen Rahmen vermeiden Unternehmen Verzögerungen im Versand ihrer Waren, wenn sie sicherstellen, dass Sie „compliant“ agieren.

Q: What does export control mean?

Bestimmte Güter unterliegen im Außenwirtschaftsverkehr Beschränkungen und Verboten. Unternehmen müssen sicherstellen, dass sie die entsprechenden gesetzlichen Vorschriften zur Exportkontrolle einhalten, wie zum Beispiel die EU-Dual-Use-Verordnung, das deutsche Außenwirtschaftsrecht oder die US-Export Administration Regulations (US EAR). Die Voraussetzung dafür ist eine präzise Prüfung aller Exportprozesse und der dazugehörigen Belege in Bezug auf Ausfuhrbeschränkungen und -verbote.

Q: What are sanctions lists?

Sanktionslisten nennen Organisationen, Unternehmen oder Einzelpersonen, die wirtschaftlichen oder rechtlichen Beschränkungen unterliegen. Sie regeln, welche Geschäftsbeziehungen Sie eingehen dürfen – oder eben nicht. Sanktionslisten werden zum Beispiel von einzelnen Ländern oder auch von der EU aufgestellt.

Automatic check of legal requirements

In foreign trade, companies must constantly comply with laws and regulations. Checking whether goods, partners, organizations or target countries are subject to requirements or bans can sometimes be time-consuming - if not automated and digitized.

Safe compliance

Goods-related export controls, sanctions lists and embargoes: There are numerous regulations that must be observed in foreign trade. In some cases, these regulations not only apply to the import and export of goods, but also govern the admissibility of contracts or negotiations.
In order to be legally secure, trade compliance, i.e. an audit of compliance with all regulations, must be ensured at an early stage - which can be a challenge given the large number of requirements and, depending on the size of the company, can be very time-consuming.

An IT-supported trade compliance management is therefore advantageous because it offers the necessary transparency and efficiency. Where the functionalities of SAP solutions are not sufficient, they can be expanded with the help of extensions.

Our process solutions

We support your processes with solutions individually tailored to your requirements for all areas of trade compliance in the SAP environment.

Goods-related export control

Checking all export restrictions and bans on goods and documenting all evidence is a challenge for companies. However, with end-to-end IT-support, these tasks can be simplified and automated. Where the SAP standard does not offer the necessary functions, it can be extended to include the required processes to automatically check the information from sales and purchasing documents, from deliveries and service orders for any export restrictions.

Sanctions list check

A thorough check of sanctions lists is often imperative even before entering into a business relationship to ensure that you are not negotiating with individuals or organizations against whom sanctions have been imposed. Here, too, you can create transparency with the right IT-solution that automatically checks all entries on the relevant sanctions lists, such as those of the European Union.

Learn more

Embargoes

In order to take into account all export and import bans, an in-depth check is required, as a wide variety of bans and restrictions exist against countries or specific goods. An automated check creates legal certainty, which has existential significance due to the severe penalties in the event of a violation.

Advantages

Risk minimization

Compliance with all requirements and regulations for foreign trade is essential for companies, because the legal consequences of non-compliance can be drastic. IT-solutions create security and transparency.

Automation

With the help of software solutions, any trade compliance check can be performed more efficiently. This way, you can be sure that you are informed about all applicable prohibitions and restrictions in a timely manner.

Transparency

Thanks to IT-support, you can be sure at all times that you are complying with regulations and laws without time-consuming manual checks - including the documentation of all necessary proofs and receipts.

Customized solutions

We attach great importance to taking your individual requirements into account and therefore advise you individually on your processes and challenges.

FAQ

The most important information on the subject of trade compliance:

What is Trade Compliance?

Trade compliance deals with the observance of regulations and laws in foreign trade. Various sets of rules, such as controls on certain goods, sanctions and embargoes, must be taken into account.

Why is trade compliance important?

Compliance with legal requirements on foreign trade relations is mandatory for companies. A violation can result in fines and other legal consequences, which can sometimes threaten the existence of companies. Even on a small scale, companies can avoid delays in the shipment of their goods if they ensure that they act "compliantly".

What does export control mean?

Certain goods are subject to restrictions and prohibitions in foreign trade. Companies must ensure that they comply with the relevant legal regulations on export control, such as the EU Dual-Use Regulation, German foreign trade law or the US Export Administration Regulations (US EAR). The prerequisite for this is a precise review of all export processes and the associated supporting documents with regard to export restrictions and bans.

What are sanctions lists?

Sanctions lists name organizations, companies or individuals that are subject to economic or legal restrictions. They regulate which business relationships you are allowed to enter into - or not. Sanctions lists are drawn up, for example, by individual countries or by the EU.

What is an embargo?

An embargo regulates prohibitions and restrictions on the export and import of goods. An embargo is not always imposed on a specific state, but can also affect certain goods as a partial embargo or be imposed on groups of persons or individuals. An embargo is usually based on political differences or objectives. The aim is often to persuade a state to give in to a conflict.

Peter Thurn

Director Business Unit Customs / Foreign Trade

T: +49 89 895089 421
M: peter.thurn@wsw.de