Seminar 3 | Caught on the Fence: Japanese Companies and the Evolving Economic Sanctions and Export Control Environment

In the emerging world of clubs and fences countries are testing the limits of traditional trade rules through expanded unilateral trade actions and more vigorous industrial policy. Targeted restrictions on free trade, or "fences", are becoming more commonplace in the international trading system with national security surfacing as one notable justification for unilateral restraints on trade and financial transactions. In addition, a growing number of countries are joining new or existing regional trade partnerships, or "clubs" with the pace of regionalization and depth of integration under many of these agreements increasing dramatically. 

In particular, new economic sanctions and export controls resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and trade tensions between the United States and China have created challenges for Japanese companies in international finance and trade where they may find themselves increasingly "caught on a fence". At the same time, Japan continues to participate in "clubs" of like-minded countries that coordinate their economic sanctions and export controls.

Our panelists will review the recent economic sanctions and export controls as they affect Japanese companies and discuss approaches for adapting to this rapidly-changing compliance environment.

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