The European Union and U.K. have rushed to commit themselves to intensifying action on sanctions evasion after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Trump has expressed scepticism about sanctions regimes, but any compliance managers who believe this will make global sanctions compliance easier in 2025 are likely to be disappointed.

Ruth Prickett graduated from Cambridge University with a BA hons in History and has specialized in business and finance journalism for the past 20 years. She was editor of Financial Management, the magazine...