The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) has published detailed guidance for the freight and shipping sector on preventing Russian sanctions evasion. The guidance is designed to help businesses identify common methods of Russian circumvention and reduce the risk of becoming targets for those attempting to evade sanctions. The guidance specifically targets freight forwarders, carriers, hauliers, customs intermediaries, postal and express operators, and other companies facilitating the movement of goods and is an integral part of the UK government’s boarder framework of embargoes and trade sanctions.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) have published guidance for businesses on sanctions end-use controls, a new licensing requirement for exports to non-sanctioned third countries where the UK government identifies a risk of diversion to sanctioned destinations. The controls apply to goods and related technology under 11 sanctions regimes, including Russia, Iran, Belarus, North Korea, Myanmar, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Iran (Nuclear), but exclude items already subject to strategic export controls. Exporters are required to obtain a licence only once they have received written notification from DBT or HMRC of a specific diversion risk. After that point, exporting without a licence constitutes a criminal offence. Applications will be assessed by DBT on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the nature and potential use of the goods or technology, diversion risks associated with the customer, route or end-user, the exporter's compliance record and due diligence processes and any available intelligence. Non-compliance may result in enforcement action, including the detention or seizure of goods by HMRC at the border, revocation or refusal of existing and future export licences, monetary penalties imposed on a strict liability basis, public naming and criminal prosecution. The guidance also confirms that OTSI does not currently accept advance licence applications, meaning exporters must wait until they receive formal notification before applying.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) have updated their guidance on reporting suspected breaches of trade sanctions. A new section, ‘Whistleblowing for trade sanctions’, has been added, which states that from 26 June 2025, individuals will be able to make whistleblowing disclosures to OTSI about persons or businesses they suspect of breaching trade sanctions implemented and enforced by OTSI. These updates follow the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2025, SI 2025/604, laid before Parliament on 21 May 2025. The Order is made to amend the Schedule to the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014, SI 2014/2418, by updating the list of prescribed persons and matters that whistleblowers can disclose as part of a protected disclosure.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) have updated their guidance on assessing trade sanctions breaches. Section 5, ‘Referral to HMRC’, has been amended to clarify that HMRC has the authority to offer compound penalties in criminal enforcement cases.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Post Office have responded to the Horizon Inquiry recommendations, accepting all but one of Sir Wyn Williams’ Horizon-related proposals and announcing reforms to the Horizon scandal redress schemes. Key improvements include funded legal advice for postmasters, a new appeals process for Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) claimants, redress for close family members of postmaster victims, and a restorative justice programme. Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed as senior lawyer to oversee the HSS, which will now close on 31 January 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced that the Export Control (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2025 will be laid in November 2025 and come into force in December 2025, introducing legislative changes to the UK’s export control framework. The amendments will strengthen controls on emerging technologies and dual-use goods, transfer certain items from Schedule 3 of The Export Control Order 2008, SI 2008/3231 to Annex I of the Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 to align with EU rules, and update Schedule 4 following the lifting of the arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan while retaining transit controls on specific goods. Further revisions will ensure consistency with international regimes and amend Annexes II and III of the assimilated Torture Goods Regulation to align controls on goods linked to capital punishment and torture with EU Regulation 2019/125.

The Department for Transport (DBT) has announced that Heathrow Airport Limited’s (HAL) third runway proposal will form the basis of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review, aiming to enable a planning decision by 2029 and support the delivery of a new runway by 2035. This follows an assessment of the remaining promoter proposals, with HAL’s scheme seen as the most deliverable in supporting economic growth, improving connectivity, and aligning with legal, environmental and climate obligations. DBT notes that the scheme provides a greater chance of meeting the government’s ambition for a development consent application to be decided within this parliament. Any amendments to the ANPS are scheduled to be consulted in the summer of 2026.

The government has announced that it will repeal the (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, stating that minimum service levels (MSLs) 'restrict the right to strike and undermine good industrial relations'. The repeal of the Act is expected to be done through the Employment Rights Bill. Amendments made by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels Act) 2023 to the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 will be reversed. The government has encouraged employers to avoid imposing MSLs on their workforce until the Act is repealed. It also states that the High Court ruling in August 2023, which upheld the judicial review challenge on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022, means that 'employment businesses are prohibited from providing agency workers to cover the duties normally performed by a worker of an organisation who is taking part in a strike or other industrial action', and it will formally update Parliament on the position soon.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced that the UK and the State of Colorado in the USA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on trade and economic cooperation. The MOU builds on the existing relationship between the two parties and outlines shared goals and activities to strengthen economic ties. Key areas of collaboration include clean energy and low emissions technology, space, digital technologies (such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies), agriculture, and tourism. The MOU also covers cooperation on the recognition of professional qualifications and government procurement.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced the UK has signed a trade pact with Texas, on 13 March 2024, to boost investment and trade cooperation. The UK is Texas’ 8th largest international goods export market, with total trade in goods worth £14.7bn in 2023. The pact aims to help improve the speed, ease, and cost for UK and Texas firms to do business by tackling trade barriers, growing investment, and driving commerce between the UK and Texas. This pact is targeted at sectors where the UK and Texas have shared expertise such as new energy solutions - including hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, life sciences, and professional business services. Prioritising cooperation on innovative energy solutions such as hydrogen will help the UK to produce more than 12,000 jobs and up to £11bn of investment by 2030 in the hydrogen sector.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced that the UK has officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on 15 December 2024. This accession is expected to boost the UK economy by £2bn annually in the long run, with benefits estimated for all UK nations and regions. The agreement introduces lower tariffs and fewer barriers for UK businesses trading with CPTPP countries, establishes new free trade deals with Malaysia and Brunei, and implements modern 'rules of origin' provisions for key sectors. The DBT also highlights potential reductions in consumer goods prices and easier export of services for UK firms to CPTPP markets.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced that the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enter into force on 15 July 2026. Businesses will be able to trade under the agreement’s terms from that date and are encouraged to use the next 28 days to prepare, including registering with HMRC to benefit from tariff reductions. The agreement is expected in the long run to boost UK gross domestic product (GDP) by £4.8 billion, increase real wages by £2.2 billion and increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually. The FTA also provides for tariff reductions including cuts on whisky from 150% to 40%, automotives from 100% to 10% under a quota and the elimination of tariffs of up to 22% on cosmetics. In addition, the period during which UK nationals working in India can continue building entitlement to a UK State Pension while paying National Insurance Contributions, without also paying social security contributions in India, will be extended from 36 months to 60 months. The arrangement is reciprocal for British and Indian professionals on pre-existing visa routes and will be implemented through the UK-India Double Contributions Convention Agreement, which will enter into force alongside the FTA.