Foreign Trade Law

High-risk area. Life-threatening for companies and entire industries.

Today, foreign trade law no longer determines only export licenses, but also a company’s ability to conduct business. What begins in Germany as a tax audit by the tax authorities can quickly escalate—amid geopolitical tensions—into sanctions, embargoes, or foreign trade proceedings that threaten a company’s very existence—often with criminal liability risks for executives and management. Many companies and consultants massively underestimate the dynamics of international regulatory networks within the EU.

Today, foreign trade law encompasses export controls, embargo law, customs law, supply chain regulation, CBAM, and energy and environmental regulations all at once. Even minor regulatory changes can affect entire industries—for example, when technologies or products are suddenly classified as dual-use goods. Governments are increasingly protecting markets, supply chains, and geopolitical interests through regulatory control mechanisms. This is precisely why the responsible authorities are also changing: Traditional export control agencies such as the BAFA are now increasingly taking on regulatory roles related to energy, climate, and economic policy.

We support companies in highly sensitive regulatory proceedings, coordinate international defense strategies, and establish robust communication structures with federal and EU authorities. In this environment, success depends not only on the legal situation but, above all, on effectively managing regulatory escalation.

Would you like to contact us regarding customs, foreign trade, or export controls? We’re here to help!