UK draws up post-Brexit sanctions plan

 

   The UK is urgently drawing up new laws that will enable it to continue imposing sanctions on foreign countries after Brexit, reports say.

   Ministers began consulting on the plans last week after officials realised most of the powers to apply sanctions will disappear when the UK leaves the EU.
   The government hopes the move will allow it to continue to adopt sanctions alongside other members of the bloc.
   The EU law is mostly used now for a travel ban, asset freeze or trade embargo. Some countries including Germany fear that Brexit will change the balance of debate within the EU and encourage nations such as Italy and Spain to argue that sanctions on Russia should be relaxed.
   The EU has imposed trade restrictions on Russia's financial, energy and defence sectors in response to its annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine.