Norway: International Trade & Investment

Norwegian seafood exports reached a record 181.5 billion kroner in 2025, yet the industry faces mounting challenges from rising protectionism and tariff barriers in key markets.

Norwegian capital managers and their portfolio companies face new challenges as the EU's forced labor regulation comes into force in December 2027, potentially blocking market access for products containing components from high-risk countries like China. With the U.S. using forced labor as justification for punitive tariffs and China implementing counter-sanctions that restrict supply chain investigations, companies must urgently reassess their procurement strategies and compliance frameworks.

The EU has adopted its 20th and 21st sanctions packages against Russia, introducing sweeping restrictions on energy, finance, and trade while marking the first use of its anti-circumvention tool. Meanwhile, China's courts have rejected foreign sanctions compliance as a defense to breach of contract, and Norway proposes legislation banning trade with Israeli settlements in Palestine, creating new compliance challenges for businesses operating across these jurisdictions.