United Kingdom: International Trade & Investment

The UK announced, on 29 May, that it had become the first G7 country to strike a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) after almost four years of negotiations. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opens unprecedented opportunities for businesses across the Gulf region, supporting economic diversification and the vision strategies driving the nations forward.

The UK government proposed a number of amendments to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA) as part of the Immigration and Asylum Bill (the Bill) it introduced on 30 June 2026. This included changes to Section 54 of the MSA, which currently imposes a duty to prepare a modern slavery statement for each financial year on companies.

A recent English court decision examined two critical aspects of force majeure clauses in commercial contracts: what constitutes an "unforeseeable" event and whether notice requirements operate as conditions precedent. The case arose from a grain shipment dispute involving a vessel stranded in the Black Sea during the Ukraine invasion, where the seller invoked force majeure after Russian inspectors halted vessel inspections.

As the UK navigates its post-Brexit relationship with the EU, a critical question emerges: should Britain align with EU digital regulations or forge its own path? With the EU's digital rulebook facing criticism for overregulation and stifling innovation, while the UK lacks influence over rules its companies must still follow, policymakers face complex choices about convergence, divergence, and new international partnerships in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

From July 2026, vans over 2.5 tonnes operating internationally will need Smart Tachograph Version 2 equipment and must comply with EU drivers' hours rules. Will your business be affected by these new requirements, and what steps should you take now to ensure compliance and avoid enforcement action at borders?

HMRC has announced a significant policy shift by publicly naming Petrofac in a £569,157 compound settlement for Russia sanctions breaches, ending its longstanding practice of anonymising offending companies. This marks a fundamental change in UK sanctions enforcement strategy, aligning HMRC's approach with other enforcement bodies like OTSI and OFSI, while potentially altering how companies calculate their response to trade sanctions investigations.

Geopolitical volatility is reshaping corporate risk as shifting alliances, trade tensions and national security priorities force organizations to navigate increasingly complex cross-border operations.

On May 19, 2026, the UK introduced a new package of Russia sanctions through an amendment to the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "Russia Regulations").

The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive package of measures designed to simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), promising to slash annual compliance costs by approximately 75% while...