News

U.K. lawmakers on Monday blocked a government plan for ministers to criminalize violations of sanctions on a unilateral basis after Great Britain leaves the European Union next year. The vote by the House of Lords of 209 to 192 against the provision, which would allow ministers to establish new criminal offenses punishable by 10-year prison sentences against individuals who violate banking embargos and other prohibitions, represents the first major defeat of the government’s attempt to shape U.K. sanctions policy after Brexit, and forces ministers to rewrite the legislation before it progresses to the House of Commons next month. The provision...