After a lengthy procedure and a few unexpected changes within the commissioners list from below (i.e. rejection of the French, Romanian and Hungarian nominees) which led to a delay of the prompt start of the new commission mandate, the new Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) Commission officially took office on December 1, 2019, without a UK Commissioner. Continue Reading
Kickoff Event Recording: CE@Schar COMPLIANCE 2020™ Subscription-based Trade Compliance Certification Program
Watch the recording of the kickoff event on November 4 at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
Speakers:
- Matt S. Borman – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration
- Candace Goforth – Former Director of Defense Trade Controls Policy
- Tracy J. Minnifield – Director, Licensing, Defense Technology Security Administration
- Catherine Hamilton, Director, Office of Defense Trade Controls Licensing
- Brad Kabanuk – Host/President, Content Enablers Mark J. Rozell, Dean, Schar School of Policy and Government
Moderated by George Grammas, Partner and Co-chair, International Trade Practice – Trade Compliance and National Security, Squire Patton Boggs
(R-L) Brad Kabanuk (Content Enablers), George Grammas (Squire Patton Boggs), Matt S. Borman (US Dept. of Commerce), Tracy J. Minnifield (DTSA), Candace Goforth (DDTC), Catherine Hamilton (DDTC)
Recording Now Available: Boris’s Brexit: A Roadmap to a New US-UK Free Trade Agreement? – Panel Discussion – Oct. 23, 2019 – Washington DC
Watch a recording of our panel discussion from October 23, 2019 in Washington DC that examined some of the most critical aspects of Brexit and their short- and medium-term implications, including a potential roadmap to a US-UK free trade agreement, and what the impact of a possible Jeremy Corbyn government might mean for US-UK relations.
Trade Practitioner Speaking at AmCham Germany’s Transatlantic Business Conference in Berlin – Nov. 6-7, 2019
The 13th Annual Transatlantic Business Conference will take place from November 6 to 7 in Spreespeicher Berlin. This year’s topic is “Building the Power to Compete in the 21st Century.” Continue Reading
Upcoming/New CFIUS Filing: WSP Global Inc. and Ecology and Environment Inc.
Status: Upcoming/New Filing
Acquirer: WSP Global Inc. (Canada)
Acquired: Ecology and Environment Inc. (US)
Value: Approx. US$67.3 Million
Industry: Engineering; Industrial Products & Services Continue Reading
UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) Updates Financial Sanctions
OFSI, part of the HM Treasury, working toward ensuring that financial sanctions are properly implemented and enforced in the UK, has updated numerous financial sanctions that are currently in force. The recent updates are for financial sanctions in the following regions and industries:
- ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Organizations
- Nicaragua
- Venezuela
- Central African Republic
- Ukraine – Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
- Syria
- Libya
- North Korea/the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- South Sudan
- Iraq
- Iran – Nuclear Proliferation
- Cyber-Attacks
- Myanmar/Burma
- Iran – Human Rights
The UK has also recently published guidance updates on financial sanctions in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal for the following regions:
- Burundi
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Zimbabwe
- ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Organizations
- Iran – Nuclear Weapons
- The Republic of Guinea-Bissau
- The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The Republic of Belarus
- Chemical Weapons
- Domestic Counter-Terrorism
- International Counter-Terrorism
- Syria
Please contact us at InternationalTradeCompliance@squirepb.com with any questions.
UK Suspends Arms Exports to Turkey
The UK has reportedly suspended the granting of arms export licenses for Turkey in relation to weapons that could potentially be used for military operations in Syria. The suspension follows British ministers ordering a full review into Turkish arms licenses. Liz Truss, the UK’s International Trade Secretary, commented that the International Trade Department “will take into account any developments in the operations in Syria as part of our rigorous licensing process.” It has been reported that the UK has supplied approximately £1.1 billion of arms to Turkey since 2014.
Please contact us at InternationalTradeCompliance@squirepb.com with any questions.
UK Government Imposes New Control on Exports to Russia
On August 14, 2019, the UK government introduced a new control on the export of submersible vessels and related equipment, software and technology to Russia. The new control has been introduced due to Russia’s development of capabilities enabling it to track, access and disrupt undersea communication cables. The UK government considers these developments as a risk to national security. Assessment of license applications by exporters for controlled items are to be carried out on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact us at InternationalTradeCompliance@squirepb.com with any questions.
UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and ECJU Submit Evidence for 2017 Arms Export Annual Inquiry
The UK Committees on Arms Export Controls are conducting an inquiry examining the government’s 2017 Strategic Export Controls Annual Report. On June 24, 2019, both HMRC and the ECJU gave written evidence for the inquiry. Continue Reading
Court of Appeal Rules UK Government Acted Unlawfully in Sale of Arms to Saudi Arabia
On June 20, 2019, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment allowing Campaign Against Arms Trade’s (CAAT) appeal of the High Court’s decision. The claim brought by CAAT was for a judicial review of export licensing decisions made by the Secretary of State for International Trade in relation to military exports to Saudi Arabia, which could potentially be used in the conflict in Yemen. Continue Reading
