What it is
A report, not software. Governments can stop trade in several ways: sanctions on countries or parties, controls on exporting certain goods or technology, trade rules such as duties and restrictions, and screening of investments and subsidies. This report takes your markets, counterparties and supply routes and shows which of these rules may reach you, where your exposure is highest, and what to do about it.
When to use it
Before you enter or expand in a market where trade is restricted or changing, when you add a new supplier, customer or shipping route, or when a rule change makes you ask whether your business is affected. Also when a bank, investor or customer asks how you manage sanctions and trade risk.
How to use it
Tell us in your own words where you operate, who you deal with and how goods or services move. We confirm what is included and a fixed fee in writing. You then receive the report in your WLA account.
What you gain
You see where the rules that can stop your trade may apply before it is stopped. You know which exposures to deal with first. You can brief your lawyers and your bank precisely, and you avoid finding out about a restriction at the border or when a payment is blocked.
THE SITUATIONA company makes industrial equipment. It sells to distributors in several countries, buys a key component from a supplier in another region, and ships through a third country.
WITHOUT THE REPORTThe company checks each sale on its own. Nobody looks at the whole chain. A restriction that applies to the component, or to the shipping route, is discovered when an order is held or a payment is refused.
WITH THE REPORTOne document lists the markets and routes in scope, the kinds of rules that may apply to each, and a ranking of where exposure is highest, with actions. The company deals with the biggest risks first and knows where it needs a local lawyer.
SanctionsRestrictions imposed by governments on dealing with certain countries, organisations or people.
Export controlsRules requiring permission, or banning, the export of certain goods, software or technology.
Trade rulesRules on moving goods and services across borders, such as duties and import or export restrictions.
Investment and subsidy screeningChecks by authorities on foreign investment in a country, or on subsidies from a foreign government, before or after a deal.
CounterpartyA business or person you deal with, such as a customer, supplier, distributor or bank.
ExposureHow likely and how serious it is that a rule will stop or limit your business.
