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.… Continue Reading
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
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 … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
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
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 … Continue Reading
The ECJU has amended the Export Control Order 2008 through the implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/514. The Export Control (Amendment) Order 2019, which came into force on June 30, 2019, amends the list of defense-related products. The changes correspond to updates made to the European Military List. In addition, updates were made to remove Eritrea from the list of countries embargoed … Continue Reading
EU extends sanctions with respect to actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. … Continue Reading
In response to the most recent developments in the Syrian conflict, the Council of the EU decided to halt arms exports licensing to Turkey on October 2019. This decision is based on the criterion that such exports could endanger regional stability. This decision is not a formal sanction, but it is a political declaration to which EU member states will … Continue Reading
On October 14, 2019, the EU published a regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua. The EU sanctions target persons and entities responsible for human rights violations or abuses, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua, as well as persons and entities whose actions, policies or activities otherwise undermine democracy and the rule of … Continue Reading
In October, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the US had won the largest arbitration award in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) history, in its dispute with the EU over illegal subsidies to Airbus. The decision awarded US$7.5 billion, which is nearly twice the next largest award. The arbitrator calculated the amount of the award based on WTO findings … Continue Reading
On October 8, 2019, the Secretary of State announced visa restrictions on Chinese government and Communist Party officials believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, the detention or abuse of Uighurs, Kazakhs or other members of Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, China. Family members of named persons may also be subject to these restrictions. The visa restrictions support the Department … Continue Reading
In early October, OFAC announced a US$2,718,581 settlement with The General Electric Company (GE) of Boston, Massachusetts. GE, on behalf of three GE subsidiaries, Getsco Technical Services Inc., Bentley Nevada and GE Betz (collectively, the “GE Companies”), agreed to settle its potential civil liability for 289 alleged violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR). Specifically, between December 2010 and February … Continue Reading
Responding to Turkey’s actions in Syria, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) blocking property and suspending entry of certain persons contributing to the situation in Syria. Pursuant to the EO, OFAC added three Turkish government officials and two Turkish government agencies, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) … Continue Reading
On October 22, 2019, OFAC issued General License No. 2G – General License with Respect to Entities Blocked Pursuant to Executive Order 13405, extending the expiration date of the general license to April 26, 2021. General License No. 2G replaces General License No. 2F and authorizes transactions with blocked entities by Belerusian Oil Trade House, Belneftekhim, Belneftekhim USA, Inc., Belshina OAO, … Continue Reading
Recently, the Department of the Treasury’s OFAC issued an amended General License 8D, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for Maintenance of operations for Certain Entities in Venezuela.”… Continue Reading
In response to ongoing human rights violations, BIS announced that it would add 28 Chinese governmental and commercial organizations to the Entity List for engaging in or enabling activities contrary to the foreign policy interests of the US. This action targets those entities implicated in human rights violations and abuses in China’s campaign targeting Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities … Continue Reading
On October 18, 2019, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the US Department of Commerce announced that it will further restrict the Cuban regime’s access to goods, including commercial aircraft. This action is in response to Cuba’s domestic situation, as well as its support of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. … Continue Reading
On September 4, 2019, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published in the Federal Register a new final rule on the Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 582 (Nicaragua Regulations), which implement Executive Order (EO) 13851 of November 27, 2018, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua”. The Nicaragua Regulations mirror the substance … Continue Reading
The Trump Administration issued an Executive Order (EO) on October 14, 2019, that authorized US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and US Department of State to impose sanctions on various Turkish individuals and entities involved in the conflict in Northern Syria. The same day that the EO was issued, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals and two entities as … Continue Reading
On October 15, 2019 in Mumbai, India, a team of our colleagues, including former US Representative Joseph Crowley (D-New York), former US Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, former UK Ambassador Matthew Kirk and Frank Samolis, will discuss the current global trade scenario and India’s trade relations with the US at an Asia Society India event.… Continue Reading
The UK government has published the proposed customs duty rates that will apply to imported merchandise entering the UK from third countries after the country has left the European Union (EU) under a so-called no-deal scenario. Unless recent political developments require the UK government to extend that deadline, it has been indicated that the UK … Continue Reading
