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ARTICLE · 17 FEBRUARY 2026

Sanctions Risk Update For 2026

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Canadian companies should prepare for a more complex and faster-evolving sanctions environment in 2026. As geopolitical tensions deepen — particularly involving Russia, parts of Latin America, the Middle East, and regions of Africa...

CanadaInternational Law
Brenda C. Swick
Brenda C. Swick
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Canadian companies should prepare for a more complex and faster-evolving sanctions environment in 2026. As geopolitical tensions deepen — particularly involving Russia, parts of Latin America, the Middle East, and regions of Africa — Canada and its key allies are expanding and refining sanctions measures in ways that create new operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks for businesses with international exposure.

What to Watch For

  • Russia: Canadian sanctions remain firmly in place. Companies operating across jurisdictions will need to navigate growing divergence between Canada's measures and those of other NATO partners.
  • Increased Exposure Through Global Partners and Intermediaries: Canadian regulators are placing heightened emphasis on indirect dealings and facilitation. Canadian involvement in a transaction that touches a sanctioned party — even through a non-Canadian intermediary — can trigger liability. This is especially relevant in

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