Transparency International (TI) has published a new report which shows how some of the world’s richest countries fail to enforce laws against foreign bribery.

Exporting Corruption examines 47 leading global exporting countries of which 43 are signatories of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention, and shows how well – or poorly – all 47 countries are enforcing the rules.

Failure to punish

More than 20 years after the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention was adopted, TI’s research shows nearly half of world exports come from countries that fail to punish foreign bribery.

This includes half of all G20 countries and 8 of the top 15 global exporters. Only four countries actively enforce against foreign bribery.

Shockingly low enforcement

Enforcement of foreign bribery laws amongst most OECD countries is shockingly low, with 34 countries demonstrating limited or little to no enforcement says the report, which points out that these countries are responsible for approximately 46 per cent of all global exports.

The four most lax countries in enforcing foreign bribery laws are the US, UK, Switzerland and Israel which provide some 16.5 per cent of all global exports.

Investigations, cases and sanctions

The 47 countries reviewed are responsible for more than 80 per cent of world exports.

From 2016 – 2019, these countries opened 421 investigations and 93 cases, and closed 244 cases with sanctions, including 125 with substantial sanctions. 

Transparency International’s new report, Exporting Corruption, in full or shortened versions, can be downloaded from here.

Categories: Trade Based Financial crimes News

Tags: Anti-Bribery Convention, G20, Investigations, Israel, OECD, Sanctions, Switzerland, Transparency International, UK, US