Since taking office in January 2017, President Trump has made use of several provisions of US law – including Section 301, targeting unfair trade practices, and Section 232, targeting threats to national security – to bring trading partners to the negotiating table. Major developments over the last two weeks could impact global supply chains across a wide range of industries, including the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Here is what you need to know. Continue Reading
US Commerce Department Offers Huawei and Affiliated Suppliers Interim Reprieve by Granting Temporary General License Until August 2019
On May 22, 2019, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is expected to publish in the Federal Register a Final Rule creating a 90-day Temporary General License (TGL) for Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) and the 68 affiliated Huawei entities (collectively, the “Huawei Listed Companies”) that were added to the Entity List following the Final Rule that BIS displayed on the “Public Inspection List” on May 16, 2019, where it announced that the Huawei Listed Companies were being added to the Entity List. (See our previous publication on adding Huawei to the Entity List.) Continue Reading
US Changes Policy on Helms-Burton Act – Litigation Strategy for Companies Active in Cuba
On May 2, the Trump Administration ceased waiving Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, thus allowing US individuals and companies to file lawsuits against companies that are operating in Cuba and “trafficking” in (meaning, using or profiting from) property in Cuba which was confiscated from them by the government of Cuba. (For additional details, read our earlier publication.) The new policy puts the US, the EU, Canada, Mexico and other companies active in Cuba in a precarious position. Four lawsuits have already been filed against companies that allegedly “traffick” in property nationalized following the Cuban Revolution. Continue Reading
Trump Secures US Telecom Supply Chain with Executive Order; Related Huawei Actions
On May 15, 2019, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain.” The long-awaited EO addresses the use in US communications networks of technologies from certain types of foreign companies. Continue Reading
US Adds Huawei and Affiliates to the Department of Commerce Entity List – What to Expect From the Final Rule
On May 21, 2019 the US Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is expected to publish in the Federal Register a Final Rule designating Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) and 68 affiliated Huawei entities located in 26 countries (collectively, the “Huawei Listed Companies”) to the Entity List. Continue Reading
Webinar: US-Russia: Anti-corruption, Sanctions and Counter-sanctions and Compliance for Companies Doing Business Between the US and Russia – Presentation Material Now Available
UPDATE: The presentation slides for the this webinar is now available in the Learning Center section of this blog. Please contact the presenters noted in the materials with any questions.
Our webinar with Lexology to discuss the evolving anti-corruption, sanctions landscapes with respect to the US and Russia and resources for companies to strengthen compliance is set for May 16, 2019 from 9:30 to 10:30 am EDT. Continue Reading
US-China Tariff War: US Announces List 4, Chinese Retaliates, Two Countries Establish Administrative Processes for Remedial Measures
The US-China trade war heated up a few more degrees in the last few days. Over the past week, the bilateral talks stumbled and actions and reciprocal actions were taken by the US and China, respectively. Continue Reading
Brexit Insights – Transatlantic Perspectives
Our Brexit team resides on both sides of the Atlantic and has multifaceted expertise to help you with any aspect of your Brexit planning and preparation. We have sectoral and subject expertise, backed by political and legal understanding and technical ability for in-depth analysis, which together can ensure you are properly informed and prepared for any Brexit scenario and post-Brexit transition. Continue Reading
Export Controls & Technology Transfers Conference – June 19-20, 2019 | Washington DC
We are once again joining forces with marcus evans® for this year’s export controls and technology transfers conference (June 19-20 in Washington DC) as Knowledge Partner. George Grammas will chair day one of the conference, which aims to provide information on fortifying export control practices through strengthened compliance and adaptation to reoccurring updates and evolving political environment. Continue Reading
The Real Significance of OFAC’s Sanctions Compliance Guidance | Sanctions Webinar on May 16, 2019
On May 2, 2019, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released guidance on effective sanctions compliance programs. While this is the first document of this kind from OFAC, similar guidance documents by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been on the books for years. In fact, OFAC published its compliance framework just two days after the DOJ updated its earlier guidance on evaluating a company’s compliance program. The DOJ guidance is more comprehensive than OFAC’s, and there is much overlap between the two. This begs the question – what is the real significance of OFAC’s announcement? Continue Reading
