Newsletter 4

Behind Every Diamond: The Global Fight Against Blood Diamonds

In the late 1990s, the world discovered a horrifying truth: some of the sparkling diamonds in engagement rings and luxury jewellery were financing brutal civil wars across Africa. These "blood diamonds" fuelled conflicts in Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and systematic human rights violations. But what emerged from this crisis was one of the most remarkable examples of international cooperation in modern trade governance.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, established in 2003, brings together over 80 countries representing 99% of global diamond trade in an unprecedented alliance between governments, industry, and civil society. Today, an estimated 99.8% of diamonds come from conflict-free sources, transforming an industry once associated with violence into a force for development. From tamper-resistant certificates to industry self-regulation, discover how this innovative system works, its remarkable achievements, and the ongoing challenges in ensuring that every diamond truly sparkles with ethics, not bloodshed.

Read the full story: The Kimberley Process - Understanding the Global Fight Against Conflict Diamonds

Freight Forwarders: Export Control Compliance Partners

Freight forwarders have evolved from simple logistics facilitators to essential compliance guardians in the export control ecosystem, where violations can result in severe penalties and operational disruptions.

The New Reality

Modern forwarders function as compliance partners with distinct verification responsibilities. While exporters maintain primary responsibility for classification and licensing, forwarders leverage their unique visibility into shipping patterns, documentation, and transaction parties to identify potential violations.

Core Compliance Duties

• Documentation & Screening - Forwarders must verify export documentation completeness, screen all transaction parties against denied party lists, and ensure license information matches shipment details.

• Red Flag Detection- Forwarders are uniquely positioned to spot unusual shipping routes, inconsistent end-user addresses, suspicious packaging, multiple small shipments suggesting license avoidance, and last-minute destination changes.

• Liability Framework- Forwarders are held to a "knowing violation" standard, creating an affirmative duty to conduct reasonable due diligence and halt suspicious transactions.

• Building Compliance Programs- Effective programs require a risk-based approach focusing resources on high-risk shipments, automated technology for screening and documentation verification, and comprehensive staff training on red flag identification and escalation procedures.

• Strategic Advantage- Export control compliance offers competitive benefits: enhanced client confidence, reduced delays, improved risk management, reputation protection, and potential trusted trader status. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, forwarders who embrace compliance as a strategic asset will thrive in the evolving trade environment.

Read full article: Understanding the Critical Role of Freight Forwarders in Export Control Compliance

Our Latest Posts

MARCH

• Newsletter 3

• Export Control Enforcement Intensifies.

• Visit to Cluster Logistics Luxembourg

APRIL

• EU Takes Action to Support 2026 NPT Review Conference

• Understanding the Critical Role of Freight Forwarders in Export Control Compliance

• EU Adopts New Framework for Coordinating Dual-Use Export Controls

MAY

• Balancing Non-Proliferation and Peaceful Nuclear Development: A Critical Challenge for Global Security

• EU Recognizes 47 Critical Raw Materials Projects as Strategic Under New Framework

• The Power of Corporate Self-Disclosure in Export Control Case /Blog

• BIS Issues Critical Warning on Chinese Advanced Computing Chips

Export Control Decoded: Our series continues ....

Want to see what the most used terms in export control compliance are about ? Have a look on our series on trade compliance terminology !

What you get: Official regulatory definitions, real-world examples, and many more. About dual-use goods, technology transfer, defence articles, license requirements and sanctions.

Missed one ? The latest terms we covered:

17 March 2025 - 18 - Technical Assistance. 1 April 2025 - 19 - End-Use. 9 April 2025 - 20 - Torture. 16 April 2025 - 21 - Re-Export. 23 April 2025 - 22 - Country. 7 May 2025 - 23 - Territory. 12 May 2025 - 24 - Wassenaar Arrangement. 22 May 2025 - 25 - Embargo. 26 May 2025 - 26 - ITAR

Contact us:

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Tel. +352 27 86 41 23, Email contact@respectus.space, Web www.respectus.tech