Topic coverage
Dated GeoSignal briefings on Economic Pressure. Read developments, assessment and source references in their original context.
The UK’s replacement steel trade measure took effect on 1 July 2026 after the previous safeguard expired, cutting tariff-free quota volumes versus the old regime and imposing a 50% tariff on in-scope imports above quota, with transitional relief for eligible pre-14 March contracts through 30 September.
From 1 July 2026, the EU began applying a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value consignments from outside the bloc, ending the previous duty exemption for shipments valued at up to €150 as an interim step before the next customs-reform stage in 2028.
On July 1, the United States sanctioned two Brazilian nationals and four companies in Brazil and Portugal tied to Primeiro Comando da Capital, expanding earlier Florida-linked criminal enforcement into asset-blocking and compliance measures.
On July 1, 2026, the United States designated two Brazilian nationals and four companies in Brazil and Portugal that Treasury said helped launder drug proceeds for Primeiro Comando da Capital through a network spanning São Paulo and Florida.
The EU Council on 25 June 2026 renewed its sectoral economic sanctions on Russia for 12 months until 31 July 2027, implementing leaders’ 18-19 June agreement and keeping the bloc’s core trade, finance, energy, technology and anti-circumvention restrictions in force.
On 25 June 2026, the Council of the EU formally renewed its sectoral economic sanctions on Russia for another 12 months, keeping the existing trade, finance, energy and dual-use restrictions in force until 31 July 2027.
As of 1 July, the operative change was the United States' May-June 2026 expansion of Cuba sanctions, including the 11 June designation of state oil company CUPET, after which Cuba said on 30 June that bilateral talks had shown no progress.
On 25 June 2026, the Council of the EU renewed its core sectoral sanctions on Russia for 12 months, keeping existing trade, finance, energy and dual-use restrictions in force until 31 July 2027 after EU leaders had agreed the extension on 18-19 June.
The Council of the European Union formally renewed the bloc’s core sectoral sanctions on Russia on 25 June 2026, keeping the existing trade, finance, energy and dual-use restrictions in force until 31 July 2027 after EU leaders agreed the extension on 18-19 June.
The EU Council on 25 June 2026 formally renewed the bloc’s core economic sanctions on Russia for 12 months, implementing EU leaders’ 18-19 June political decision and keeping the existing trade, finance, energy and technology restrictions in force until 31 July 2027.
The Council of the EU on 25 June 2026 renewed the bloc’s sectoral economic sanctions on Russia for another year, implementing the European Council’s 18-19 June political agreement and keeping the framework in force until 31 July 2027.
The Council of the EU on 25 June 2026 formally extended the bloc’s existing sectoral sanctions on Russia for 12 months, implementing the European Council’s 18-19 June political agreement and keeping the core regime in force until 31 July 2027.
On 26 June 2026, CPTPP ministers issued a joint statement committing to maintain open and stable trade flows for essential energy products and other affected goods as disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz remained operationally significant.
The EU kept its core Russia-related economic sanctions in force until 31 July 2027 on 25 June, implementing European Council guidance from 18-19 June that also called for a 21st package focused on energy revenues, shadow-fleet activity, banking constraints and tighter anti-circumvention enforcement.
On 26 June 2026, CPTPP ministers issued a joint statement saying the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted global energy supply chains and stressing the need to keep trade in essential energy products and other affected commodities open and stable.
On 15 June 2026, the EU Council adopted a new Russia sanctions package aimed at energy revenues, shadow-fleet-linked oil shipment networks, propaganda and hybrid actors, and those tied to the persecution, poisoning and death of Alexei Navalny.
After EU leaders agreed on 18-19 June 2026 to prolong the bloc’s standing Russia sanctions regime, the Council on 25 June formally renewed the sectoral measures for 12 months, keeping the core restrictions in force until 31 July 2027.
The UK confirmed operational details on 25 June for a steel import regime starting on 1 July 2026, implementing its March decision with tariff-free quotas 51% below the outgoing safeguard measure and a 50% tariff on covered imports above quota.
On June 23, 2026, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned 35 additional Prince Group-linked targets and said FinCEN had proposed extending Huione-related correspondent banking restrictions to H-Pay Service PLC and any successor entity, expanding an existing Cambodia-focused enforcement campaign.
As of June 25, 2026, the U.S. had expanded its Cambodia-linked scam-network enforcement campaign by sanctioning 35 additional Prince Group-linked targets and proposing to extend existing Huione-related banking restrictions to H-Pay Service PLC and any successor entity.
China’s commerce ministry said on 22 June 2026 that it had added 10 U.S. entities to its export control list, immediately blocking dual-use exports to them and barring onward transfers of Chinese-origin dual-use items, after the United States expanded its Section 1260H Chinese military company designations on 10 June.
On June 23, 2026, the U.S. expanded its existing sanctions campaign against Cambodia-linked scam and laundering networks by designating 35 additional Prince Group-linked targets and moving in parallel to widen related correspondent-banking restrictions.
On 23 June 2026, the United States expanded its enforcement campaign against the Cambodia-linked Prince Group scam network by sanctioning nine individuals and 26 entities and by proposing to extend prior Huione-related anti-money-laundering restrictions to H-Pay Service PLC and any successor entity.
