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Preventing Russian Export Control and Sanctions Evasion: Updated Guidance for Industry

Since February 24, 2022, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (collectively referred to as the “Group of 7” or “G7”) have implemented unprecedented export controls and sanctions that restrict Russia’s access to technologies and other materials required to sustain its military operations and illegal war campaign in Ukraine. The G7 has also coordinated these regulations with the Global Export Control Coalition (GECC), a 39‑member coalition that has implemented substantially similar controls in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.Footnote 1

The work of the G7 has impacted Russia’s ability to access goods and technologies used for weapons development purposes. The coordinated application of export controls and sanctions has limited Russia’s access to key markets it relied on for access to and purchase of technologies. The actions of the G7 have also degraded Russia’s economy and Moscow’s ability to generate revenue that could be used to purchase Western technologies.

In February 2023, the G7 announced the creation of a new Enforcement Coordination Mechanism (ECM) to bolster compliance and enforcement of multilateral export controls and sanctions and to deny Russia the benefits of G7 economies. In September 2023, the ECM established a Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement, through which G7 representatives would exchange information and operational results, discuss trends in research and analysis, and share best practices.

As part of our coordinated efforts, a core principle of the G7 Sub-Working Group on Export Control Enforcement is to provide guidance to industry on preventing the diversion of controlled items to Russia, including through third countries. Our collective aim is to assist industry in identifying Russian evasion practices and complying with GECC controls, thereby protecting their technology from misappropriation, preventing reputational harm, and mitigating liability risk while supporting the continued success of our export controls and sanctions.

This guidance document contains:

  1. A list of items which pose a heightened risk of being diverted to Russia,
  2. Updated red flag indicators of potential export control and/or sanctions evasion,
  3. Best practices for industry to address these red flags, and
  4. Screening tools and resources to assist with due diligence.

Actions by Russia to Evade Export Controls and Sanctions

Russia has demonstrated that it relies on deceptive tactics capable of evading established export controls and sanctions enforcement. Russian proliferators operate as transshipment agents and divert dual use technologies and controlled goods from third countries to Russia.

Therefore, it is critical that all parties of the supply chain (e.g., exporters, re-exporters, manufacturers, distributors, resellers, and service providers such as financial institutions, logistics companies, transportation providers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and customs brokers) are aware of the diversion risks posed by Russia’s illicit procurement efforts and adopt appropriate measures to mitigate any risks.

The Russian Government has taken the following actions to support these procurement efforts:

The Common High Priority List

The European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States developed the to highlight for industry that these items pose a heightened risk of illicit diversion to Russia because of their importance to Russia’s war efforts. These items have been retrieved from Russian weapons found on the battlefield or have been identified as essential items for Russia to manufacture its own military equipment.

The CHPL shall aid industry in conducting necessary due diligence. As of this document’s publication, the CHPL includes 50 tariff lines that Russia seeks to procure for its war effort. The 50 tariff lines are identified by six-digit Harmonized System (HS) Codes, a standardized numerical method of classifying goods, known to every exporter, shipper, and freight forwarder around the world.

Tier 1

Integrated circuits (also referred to as microelectronics). These items have a critical role in production of advanced Russian precision-guided weapons systems, due to lack of domestic production and limited global manufacturers.

Tier 2

Additional electronics (such as, related to wireless communications) items for which Russia may have some domestic production capability but prefers to use technology originating from G7 or GECC partners in its military equipment.

Tier 3.A

Further electronic components used in Russian weapons systems, with a broader range of suppliers.

Tier 3.B

Mechanical and other components utilized in Russian weapons systems.

Tier 4.A

Manufacturing, production, and quality testing equipment for electric components, circuit boards, and modules.

Tier 4.B

Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tools and components. Russia’s military industrial complex relies heavily on technology originating from G7 or GECC countries to manufacture advanced weaponry.

Red flag indicators

The G7 has identified the following red flags indicators of potential export control and sanctions evasion.

We encourage industry to use these red flag indicators to conduct necessary due diligence prior to export and to be alert for other possible indicators not listed below.

1. Sudden changes in business activity after February 24, 2022, or after subsequent changes in export controls/sanctions

Including but not limited to:

2. False, inaccurate, or missing documentation

Including:

3. Concealing the end user

For example by:

4. Inconsistencies in the transaction

Including but not limited to:

5. Vague details and/or incomplete information

Such as:

6. Dividing an invoice value into smaller amounts to remain under value limits of sanctioned goods or export controls

7. Suspicious customer information

Such as:

8. Customer has connections of concern

For example:

9. Concerning business practices

Such as:

10. Last-minute changes to parties involved with the transaction from an entity in Russia or Belarus to an entity in another country.

11. Payments from entities located in third countries that are not otherwise involved with the transactions, particularly through a sanctioned country.

12. Customer unwilling to provide certification that it will not sell items to Russia or sanctioned parties in third countries.

Best practices

When you encounter these or any other red flag indicators, you should conduct additional risk- based customer and transactional due diligence to possibly clear these red flags and thus mitigate attempts to evade the GECC’s respective export controls and/or sanctions. As no single red flag is indicative of illicit or suspicious activity, all the surrounding facts and circumstances should be considered before determining whether a specific transaction is suspicious or associated with potential export control and/or sanctions evasion. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach.

The G7 calls on responsible traders to improve export compliance systems and exercise enhanced due diligence. Specifically, we strongly encourage you to follow these steps upon encountering these or any other red flag indicators:

  1. Run transaction parties against applicable public sanctions lists (see “Additional Resources” for a compendium of G7 websites to search against). This includes separately running both the name and address against such lists. If relevant, run transaction parties against information collected by nonprofit organizations identifying companies that present a high risk of future diversion.
    1. Where a “hit” against an address but not a company name occurs, additional due diligence as noted below is recommended.
    2. An address which matches one or more public sanctions lists may indicate the use of shell companies or trust and company service providers (commonly referred to as company secretaries).
  2. Conduct additional due diligence. You may wish to:
    1. Inquire further regarding the end use, end user, and/or ultimate country of destination for the items.
    2. Request more information from the customer regarding their history, business practices, etc.
    3. Conduct open-source research on the customer, including leveraging public business registries and commercially available trade databases.
    4. Request that customers sign written certification that items will not be transferred to parties in Russia or Belarus or sanctioned parties in third countries.
    5. Update distributor agreements to require distributors implement heightened due diligence measures as noted in this guidance document.
  3. Analyze the risk of export control and/or sanctions circumvention. Reevaluate the red flag indicators and all available information after conducting further due diligence.
    1. Can you explain or justify the red flags?
    2. Can you establish bona fides of the party?
    3. Can you confirm the legitimacy of the transaction?
  4. If you continue to have reason for concern after your inquiry, you should:
    1. Refrain from the transaction
    2. Disclose information to the appropriate export control/compliance/customs agency in your country.

Additional resources

Screening tools

Guidance documents

Canada:

European Commission:

Export Enforcement Five (E5):

Germany:

Japan:

United Kingdom:

United States:

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