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China Expands Export Control on Rare Earth Minerals and More

On October 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced two new decrees (the “New Rules”) significantly expanding and strengthening export controls over the rare earth supply chain: Decree No. 61 primarily targets foreign-made rare earth metals and products, while Decree No. 62 focuses on the control of rare earth-related technology.… Continue Reading

Russia Adopts Fast Track Mechanism for Selling Federal Assets

On September 30, 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 693 “On Certain Particularities of the Sale of Property in Federal Ownership” (here). The measure took effect the moment it was published. The decree is expressly framed as a response to “unfriendly” actions by the United States and its allies. It is adopted “to protect … Continue Reading

EU Lifts Key Sanctions on Syria: Legal and Compliance Implications Amid Evolving Opportunities

Earlier this week, the Council of the EU adopted a series of legal instruments giving effect to what had been agreed on 20 May 2025, to significantly reduce sanctions on the Syrian Arab Republic. As a result, all EU economic restrictive measures targeting Syria have been lifted, except for those maintained on specific security-related grounds. … Continue Reading

EU Adopts 17th Sanctions Package Against the Russian Federation: Further Targets the “Shadow Fleet” and Expands Export Controls

On 20 May 2025, the European Council announced its 17th sanctions package against the Russian Federation. The latest measures reinforce the EU’s strategic objective of undermining Russia’s capacity to finance and sustain its war efforts in Ukraine.… Continue Reading

A Summary of China’s Retaliation Actions Since The Trump Administration

This summary helps to navigate the various retaliation actions China has taken in the past 50 days after President Trump took office on January 20, 2025, to counter the US trade restrictions, including (i) imposing additional tariff on certain US origin products, (ii) adding 12 US companies to the Unreliable Entity List, (iii) control of … Continue Reading

The EU Suspends Certain Sanctions on Syria to Support Economic Stabilisation, Political Transition and Reconstruction

To help the Syrian people achieve a peaceful and inclusive political transition, to aid the swift economic recovery and reconstruction of the country and to facilitate its eventual reincorporation into the global financial system, the EU has suspended with immediate effect a number of sanctions and restrictive measures that had targeted key sectors of the … Continue Reading

New Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Active Anode Materials from China

On December 17, 2024, American Active Anode Material Producers, a trade association consisting of domestic manufacturers of certain active anode materials, filed petitions with the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking the imposition of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of such materials from China. The … Continue Reading

The EU Strengthens Sanctions Against Russia with 15th Package of Restrictive Measures

On 16 December 2024, the European Union (EU) adopted its 15th package of sanctions against Russia in response to its ongoing aggression toward Ukraine. The new measures target key sectors of Russia’s military-industrial complex, including the “shadow fleet” and companies that support this complex. In a significant development, the EU has imposed fully-fledged sanctions – … Continue Reading

Key Updates on the Enhanced Due Diligence and Circumvention Requirements Under Council Regulation 833/2014

On 11 December 2024, the European Commission issued important updates to its Consolidated FAQs on the implementation of Council Regulation No 833/2014 and Council Regulation No 269/2014 (FAQs). These updates cover multiple topics, including due diligence requirements, circumvention and the introduction of a new chapter dedicated specifically to enhanced due diligence for operators involved in … Continue Reading

PVH Facing the Risk of Being Placed on China’s Unreliable Entities List

On September 24, 2024, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that the Working Mechanism of the Unreliable Entities List (the “Working Mechanism”) had initiated an investigation of the PVH Group, a global clothing company and owner of brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Warner’s, Olga and True & Co. The action was taken pursuant … Continue Reading

Decarbonizing the Global Shipping Industry: Is Hydrogen Fuel the Answer?

Decarbonization is coming to the global shipping industry. Accounting for nearly one- quarter of all carbon emissions from the world’s transportation sector and one billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, shipping stands at a critical juncture in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate its environmental impact. Among the emerging alternatives to traditional fossil … Continue Reading

CFIUS Clearance: Czechoslovak Group a.s. and Sporting Products business of Vista Outdoor Inc.

Status:       Clearance Acquirer:            Czechoslovak Group a.s. (Czech Republic) Acquired:            Sporting Products business of Vista Outdoor Inc. (U.S.) Value:                  $1.91 billion Industry Tags:    Firearms; Law Enforcement… Continue Reading

BIS Amends the EAR to Expand Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus and Over 300 New Sanctions Designations

On June 12, 2024, the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed additional export control measures against Russia and Belarus by expanding the scope of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) sectoral sanctions. The amendments to the EAR were issued in conjunction with the issuance of sanctions against over … Continue Reading

The Russian Federation’s Introduced Compensation Protocol in Response to the Unfriendly Acts of the US

The government of the Russian Federation is taking specific actions to establish a special procedure for compensation of damage caused by the US. Thus, this new procedure enables “Russian Rights Holders” (i.e., holders of damaged rights of the Russian Federation and/ or the Russian Central Bank) to address Russian courts with a statement claiming having … Continue Reading

New US Trade Action Against Disposable Aluminum Containers, Pans, and Trays from China

On May 16, 2024, U.S. producers filed antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions against imports of disposable aluminum containers, pans, and trays from China claimed to be (a) dumped – i.e., sold into the United States at less than fair/normal value prices and (b) government subsidized. The petition alleges dumping import duty margins of … Continue Reading

White House Issues Executive Order to Strengthen Cybersecurity at US Ports

On February 21, 2024, the White House issued an executive order implementing various measures to bolster the security of US ports by expanding the US Coast Guard’s authority to regulate maritime cybersecurity, requiring the reporting of cyber incidents and investing in the US port critical infrastructure. With the increasing use of connected systems in the … Continue Reading

US ITC Launches Global Rice Trade Investigation

On March 1, 2024, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) officially announced the initiation of a new factfinding investigation into the global rice market. The investigation, titled “Rice: Global Competitiveness and Impacts on Trade and the U.S. Industry” (Investigation No. 332-603), was requested by US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Chair Jason … Continue Reading

European Commission Investigates Chinese State-backed Company’s Participation in a European Tender Using New Powers Under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation

The European Commission has launched its first ever formal investigation into a potentially market-distorting foreign subsidy, exercising its powers under the 2023 Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). The investigation concerns the participation of a Chinese state-owned train manufacturer in a public tender organized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications. The outcome of this case … Continue Reading

Upcoming/New CFIUS Filing: Cunova GmbH (Germany) and KME America Marine Tube & Fitting LLC (U.S.)

Status: Upcoming/New Filing Acquirer: Cunova GmbH (Germany); KME Group SpA (Italy); SDCL EDGE Acquisition Corporation (Cayman Islands) Acquired: KME America Marine Tube & Fitting LLC (U.S.) Value: $736 million Industry Tags: Specialty Metals; Metals; Aerospace        … Continue Reading

Unveiling the New EU Foreign Investment Regime

To address growing geopolitical tensions and technological shifts, the European Commission presented, on 24 January 2024, five new initiatives for strengthening the EU’s economic security. Part of the package is a proposal for a new regulation on the screening of foreign investments, whose aim is to update Regulation 2019/452 (FDI Regulation), which is currently in … Continue Reading

BIS Amends the EAR To Implement Additional Sanctions Against Russia and Belarus and To Revise Existing Export Controls on Russia, Belarus and Iran

On January 25, 2024, the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) expanding the sanctions against Russia and Belarus through new and revised licensing requirements. The amendments also refined existing export controls on Russia, Belarus and Iran to enhance the effectiveness of, and better … Continue Reading

Forced Labor Legal Developments in Europe: EU Council and Parliament Negotiate Final Text for Proposed Regulation

While many have focused in recent months on the US enforcement of the forced labor import ban (19 U.S.C. 1307) and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) (Public Law No. 117-78), the EU is working on its own set of regulations prohibiting products made with forced labor from entering the EU market. A proposal … Continue Reading
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