Mr. Sanctions

Category: General Trade License

  • October 1, 2026: New Russia-related General Trade Licenses for Japan and South Korea from OTSI

    OTSI header

    New general trade licences published under the Russia sanctions regime

    Today, the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) has published two general trade licences under the Russia sanctions regime.  

    The licences relate to UK involvement in the maritime transportation of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to Japan and South Korea under specific, pre-existing contractual arrangements.  

    Supporting diversification away from Russian energy strengthens long-term pressure on Russia’s energy sector. Japan and South Korea are close partners and important contributors to international support for Ukraine. 

    Any persons intending to use either general licence should consult the licences for full details of the authorisations and conditions for use. 

    Context for the licences 

    Today, 1 October 2026, the UK is designating and specifying 31 individuals, entities and ships under the UK’s Russia sanctions regulations. This follows the UK’s introduction of trade sanctions on 20 May 2026 prohibiting the involvement of UK businesses in the maritime transportation of Russian LNG. From 1 January 2027, these restrictions will extend to trade carried out under long-term contracts concluded before 17 June 2025.  

    What do the licences do 

    The general trade licences provide a targeted and time-limited authorisation to support the energy security of the UK’s close partners Japan and South Korea, as they reduce reliance on Russian energy.  

    The licences only authorise UK involvement in Japanese and South Korean imports of LNG where all licence conditions are met, specifically: 

    • the imports are from the Sakhalin-2 Project 
    • they take place under a contract for the supply of LNG concluded before 17 June 2025 
    • they take place between 1 January 2027, when the relevant regulations take effect, and 31 March 2028 

    The licences do not authorise LNG trade under new contracts or trade involving designated persons.  

    Read the licences: 

    If you have any queries about these licences, contact OTSI using the contact form. 

    Further information on UK sanctions against Russia is available on GOV.UK. For specific queries about the sanctions regime, email, fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk

    OTSI’s website can be found on GOV.UK

    The Japan license:

    GTL_maritime_transportation_of_LNG_JapanDownload

    and the South Korea one:

    GTL_maritime_transportation_of_LNG_South_KoreaDownload

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  • May 19, 2026: OTSI (not OFSI) issues two Russia-related General Trade Licences

    The first one is related to sanctioned processed oil products (only in HTML for some reason):

    Notice

    General Trade Licence for sanctioned processed oil products

    Published 19 May 2026

    Licence number: GBSAN0004

    1․ The Secretary of State grants this General Trade Licence under regulation 65 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the ‘Russia Regulations’).

    2․ The prohibitions in regulations 46Z9F, 46Z9G, 46Z9H, and 46Z9I of Chapter 4IB (relevant processed oil products) of the Russia Regulations do not apply to anything done that is authorised under this licence.

    Interpretation

    3․ For the purposes of this licence:

    a) “2709 oil and oil products” means those oil and oil products which–

    i) fall within commodity code 2709, and

    ii) originate in Russia;

    b) “oil and oil products” means anything specified in Schedule 3F to the Russia Regulations;

    c) “person” means an individual, a body of persons corporate or unincorporate, any organisation or any association or combination of persons;

    d) “relevant processed oil products” means oil and oil products which–

    i) fall within commodity code 2710, and

    ii) have been processed in a third country from 2709 oil and oil products;

    e) “third country” means any country other than the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Russia;

    f) paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Russia Regulations applies for the purposes of—

    i) interpreting the definitions of “2709 oil and oil products” and “relevant processed oil products”, and

    ii) determining whether products fall within the commodity codes in paragraph 5 of this licence.

    Authorisations

    4․ The prohibitions specified at regulations 46Z9F, 46Z9G, 46Z9H, and 46Z9I of the Russia Regulations do not apply to relevant processed oil products, or in relation to those products, provided that the condition set out in paragraph 5 of this licence is met.

    5․ The condition is that the products fall within any of the following commodity codes:

    a) 2710 19 42 or 2710 19 44 (diesel);

    b) 2710 19 21 (jet fuel).

    General

    6․ This licence does not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in a breach of any part of the Russia Regulations, save as authorised under this licence or any other licence granted under the Russia Regulations.

    7․ Information provided to the Secretary of State in connection with this licence shall be processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This information may be disclosed to third parties as permitted or required by law, including as required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or permitted under regulation 78 of the Russia Regulations.

    8․ This licence is subject to any obligation arising in respect of the Windsor Framework as it may apply through section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in respect of Northern Ireland.

    9․ The provisions of regulation 76 (general trade licences: records) of the Russia Regulations apply to any act under the authority of this Licence.

    10․ This licence comes into force on 20 May 2026. It is of indefinite duration and shall be periodically reviewed by the Secretary of State.

    11․ The Secretary of State has the power to vary, revoke or suspend this licence at any time. The Secretary of State will endeavour to provide 4 months’ notice of any decision to revoke this licence.

    An Official of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), authorised to act on behalf of the Secretary of State.

    Issued on 19 May 2026.

    Contact DBT

    Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to:

    Import controls and trade sanctions

    Department for Business and Trade
    Old Admiralty Building
    Admiralty Place
    London
    SW1A 2DY

    Email importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk

    If you require this publication in an alternative format, email importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

    and the second one is related to liquefied natural gas (in HTML and PDF):

    general_trade_licence_maritime_transportation_of_LNG_Download

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