The impact of Brexit on the KYC/AML compliance and Trade in the UK



The regulations have changed and are more strict for financial institutions. Recently the EU implemented the Fifth Anti Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) while Sixth Anti Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD) is in the pipeline.

But the UK has left the union and these laws will not be implemented in the UK. The UK has launched its own AML law in 2018, and it is expected to be the new law in the country.

KYC/AML Compliance That Effect Financial Institutions

Given the regulatory shift, the risk of financial crime is high. As the UK will be developing its own laws the criminal entities might utilise this loophole to launder money through the financial system of the country.

This scenario will cause problems for the reporting entities i.e. banks, businesses, e-commerce, Fin-tech, Financial institutions, etc. As these are used to conduct money laundering.  

Let’s see what will be the impact of Brexit on the KYC/AML Compliance practices of businesses in the Uk

Laws for the trusts 

The trusts are already registered with the authorities in the UK. Most of the trusts do, it was also a part of 5AMLD where almost every trust was required to register with the authorities. It is expected that it will not change after Brexit. It has been projected at Lexology that the laws for the trusts will not change much after Brexit. 

The 5AMLD and 6AMLD 

The 5AMLD and 6AMLD were targeted to bring uniformity in KYC/AML laws of the member countries of the EU. 5AMLD was implemented before the UK left the EU, but now the UK will be following its own AML/CFT laws, so this will create a gap in the AML laws in the country.

The businesses in the UK will have to follow the new laws made by the UK authorities. Although they will not change substantially, a minor change in the law means changes in the compliance department operations of a business. 

The change in the laws of the EU

The laws in the EU will also change, as the UK will now be treated as the third country. The AML/KYC laws in the EU will be changed as per the new scenario. The reporting entities in the EU will have to change their KYC/AML compliance procedures as per the edits in the EU law. 

Impact on trade 

The businesses in the UK and the EU will face some major changes in the trade laws practices before Brexit. The UK will have to develop new agreements with neighboring countries, and the regulatory subsidies it enjoyed as a EU member will no longer be there to leverage on. 

As it will be treated as a third country, the businesses originated in the UK will be facing problems in developing trade relationships with the EU. As the laws will become stricter for them. Also, the UK government will have to make a substantial effort to develop new trade agreements with member countries. 

To wrap up, Brexit will have positive and negative consequences for the UK and the EU both. The businesses will undergo some changes in their compliance operations and trade practices. As the KYC/AML laws will change in the UK and EU.

As the UK will initiate new trade agreements with the EU member countries the businesses will also update their agreements with businesses in EU member countries.

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