On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, the Senate Finance Committee approved the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 25-3. The markup of President Trump’s replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provided several surprises, at least from a traditional trade policy perspective. … Continue Reading
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
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
Keep US Open to Chinese Business: 维持一个对华企业开放的美国： How to Cope With Strengthened US Export Controls and CFIUS 应对日趋严格的美国出口管制和CFIUS审查的实务指南 Friday, October 11, 2019 – Shanghai (2019 年10月11日，周五 – 上海) Tuesday, October 15, 2019 – Beijing (2019 年10月15日，周二 – 北京)… Continue Reading
Ahead of the Curve: Addressing the Changing Environment of US-China Trade Compliance and Export Controls Thursday, October 10, 2019 – Shanghai Monday, October 14, 2019 – Beijing… Continue Reading
Accessing the US Market: Regulatory and Policy Insights and Strategic Advice for Japanese Investors Wednesday, October 9, 2019 – Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 9:30 am to 12:30 pm JST. Event includes lunch. … Continue Reading
On August 5, 2019, President Trump signed a new Venezuela-related Executive Order (EO), which imposes additional sanctions on the government of Venezuela. … Continue Reading
On August 1, 2019, President Trump tweeted that the US will impose a 10% tariff on approximately US$300 billion worth of products from China (“List 4”) beginning on September 1. This will be in addition to Section 301 tariffs already imposed on US$250 billion worth of Chinese products. … Continue Reading
