Western firms eye possible return to Russia (Financial Times)
Western companies in the commodities and shipping sectors are reportedly consulting legal firms to assess the possibility of resuming business ties with Russia, amid speculation that U.S. sanctions against Moscow could be eased, the Financial Times reports.
According to the paper, President Donald Trump’s apparent intent to rebuild ties with the Kremlin is opening up a once-unthinkable scenario: a partial rollback of U.S. sanctions on Russia. In response, several companies are seeking legal advice on how to restructure operations in order to reengage with Russian partners, despite ongoing restrictions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Differences between U.S. and EU sanctions regimes now pose “a major issue for businesses,” said Sam Tate, a lawyer at Clyde & Co. “Some companies are already considering adjustments and trying to anticipate what comes next,” he added.
Daniel Martin, a sanctions specialist at law firm HFW, noted that Western firms have traditionally shaped their compliance programs around U.S. rules, which were among the most stringent. Today, however, clients are increasingly asking whether they should align more closely with European frameworks, which in many cases have become more restrictive.
Martin described the current situation as one of “mapping out the direction of travel” to better anticipate potential decisions from Washington. Should the U.S. ease sanctions, oil traders would likely resume activity with Russia sooner than producers, whose return would require more capital-intensive investments.
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