diff --git a/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/handlers.go b/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/handlers.go
index 7028f7bea..786e9639b 100644
--- a/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/handlers.go
+++ b/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/handlers.go
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ func Configure(api *operations.EasyclaAPI, service Service, userService users.Se
 				if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "internal server error") {
 					return sign.NewRequestCorporateSignatureInternalServerError().WithPayload(errorResponse(reqID, err))
 				}
-				if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "is sanctioned") {
-					desc := "We’re sorry, but you are currently unable to sign the Corporate Contributor License Agreement (CCLA). If you believe this may be an error, please reach out to support"
+				if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "requires further review for trade compliance") {
+					desc := "We're sorry, but this organization requires additional trade compliance review, so the Contributor License Agreement (CLA) cannot be completed at this time. If you believe this is an error, please contact EasyCLA Support via the chat widget."
 					return sign.NewRequestCorporateSignatureForbidden().WithPayload(errorResponseWithDesc(reqID, err, desc))
 				}
 				if err == projects_cla_groups.ErrProjectNotAssociatedWithClaGroup {
diff --git a/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/service.go b/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/service.go
index 4f016f1e4..b43e9ea70 100644
--- a/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/service.go
+++ b/cla-backend-go/v2/sign/service.go
@@ -278,11 +278,11 @@ func (s *service) RequestCorporateSignature(ctx context.Context, lfUsername stri
 	}
 	if sanctioned {
 		if input.CompanySfid != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("company %s is sanctioned", *input.CompanySfid)
+			err = fmt.Errorf("company %s requires further review for trade compliance", *input.CompanySfid)
 		} else {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("company is sanctioned")
+			err = fmt.Errorf("company requires further review for trade compliance")
 		}
-		log.WithFields(f).WithError(err).Error("company is sanctioned")
+		log.WithFields(f).WithError(err).Error("company requires further review for trade compliance")
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -1226,8 +1226,8 @@ func (s *service) SignedCorporateCallback(ctx context.Context, payload []byte, c
 			log.WithFields(f).WithError(complianceErr).Warnf("company compliance check failed in corporate callback for company %s; not finalizing CCLA", companyID)
 			return complianceErr
 		} else if sanctioned {
-			log.WithFields(f).Warnf("company %s is sanctioned; refusing to finalize corporate CLA in callback", companyID)
-			return fmt.Errorf("company %s is sanctioned; corporate CLA cannot be finalized", companyID)
+			log.WithFields(f).Warnf("company %s requires further review for trade compliance; refusing to finalize corporate CLA in callback", companyID)
+			return fmt.Errorf("company %s requires further review for trade compliance; corporate CLA cannot be finalized", companyID)
 		}
 
 		_, currentTime := utils.CurrentTime()
@@ -2996,7 +2996,7 @@ func (s *service) checkCompanyCompliance(ctx context.Context, company *v1Models.
 		"companyExternalID": company.CompanyExternalID,
 		"sssMode":           sssMode,
 	}
-	log.WithFields(f).Debugf("starting company sanctions screening (mode=%s)", sssMode)
+	log.WithFields(f).Debugf("starting company trade compliance screening (mode=%s)", sssMode)
 
 	// Short-circuit for manually/admin-set blocks (sanction_origin != "sss" or no origin).
 	// SSS-origin blocks fall through so a now-clean result can clear them.
diff --git a/cla-backend-legacy/internal/api/handlers.go b/cla-backend-legacy/internal/api/handlers.go
index 042c13768..100e07858 100644
--- a/cla-backend-legacy/internal/api/handlers.go
+++ b/cla-backend-legacy/internal/api/handlers.go
@@ -8897,8 +8897,8 @@ func (h *Handlers) employeeSignaturePrecheck(ctx context.Context, projectID, com
 	if blocked {
 		fn := "employeeSignaturePrecheck"
 		sanctioned := map[string]any{
-			"sanctioned":  fmt.Sprintf("%s - user %s, company %s is sanctioned", fn, userID, companyID),
-			"description": "We’re sorry, but you are currently unable to sign the Employee Contributor License Agreement (ECLA). If you believe this may be an error, please reach out to support",
+			"sanctioned":  fmt.Sprintf("%s - user %s, company %s requires further review for trade compliance", fn, userID, companyID),
+			"description": "We're sorry, but this organization requires additional trade compliance review, so the Contributor License Agreement (CLA) cannot be completed at this time. If you believe this is an error, please contact EasyCLA Support via the chat widget.",
 			"user_id":     userID,
 			"company_id":  companyID,
 		}