On 7 November 2017, the UK Government published the Trade Bill, having introduced it to Parliament for its First Reading. Together with the Customs Bill, it is designed to give the UK the powers necessary to bring existing EU trade agreements into UK statute so that when the UK officially withdraws from the EU, businesses … Continue Reading
On 19 October, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published new guidance and a FAQs factsheet to assist charities and NGOs to understand their obligations under financial sanctions and the OFSI’s approach to licencing and compliance issues.… Continue Reading
On 18 October, the Sanctions and Anti-money Laundering Bill was introduced to Parliament. It will provide the government with the legal powers it needs to continue implementing sanctions following Brexit and to maintain existing sanctions regimes that currently derive from EU law.… Continue Reading
On 17 October, the UK published the Republic of Mali (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/972). These follow Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1770 of 28 September 2017, which imposed “travel restrictions and the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain of persons designated by the United Nations Security Council as responsible for or complicit in, or having … Continue Reading
On 23 October, the EU renewed existing sanctions on Guinea until 27 October 2018, and those on Moldova until 31 October 2018. It also published a notice to those on the Guinea list renewing their inclusion in the Annex to Council Decision 2010/638/CFSP and Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No 1284/2009, explaining that they may request that this be … Continue Reading
On 20 October, the European Commission initiated the new anti-dumping investigation against imports of electric bicycles from China. The product concerned is cycles with pedal assistance and auxiliary electric motors. The complaint was lodged by the European Bicycle Manufactures Association, which claims that the imports of electric bicycles from China undercut and undersell the EU industry by substantial margins.… Continue Reading
On 25 October, the EU adopted Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2017/1948 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1942, updating information on its Sudan sanctions list concerning Mr Alnsiem (see Annex I to Council Regulation (EU) No 747/2014).… Continue Reading
On 16 October, with respect to Myanmar/Burma, the Council of the EU issued a statement in which it stated that “the Council may consider additional measures if the situation does not improve but also stands ready to respond accordingly to positive developments”. In April, the EU renewed existing sanctions on Myanmar/Burma imposing an embargo on goods that might be used … Continue Reading
On 16 October, in the wake of US President Trump’s decision not to certify Iran’s compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the EU issued a statement saying that “it is committed to the continued full and effective implementation of all parts of the JCPOA”. Furthermore, that “the European Union considers President Trump’s decision not to certify Iran’s … Continue Reading
On 16 October, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted new EU autonomous measures reinforcing the sanctions on North Korea imposed by the UN Security Council, effective immediately. They include a total ban on EU investment in North Korea across all sectors, whereas previously the ban related to certain sectors, such as the arms industry and chemical industries. Also, there is a … Continue Reading
On 4 October, two main law-making bodies of the EU, the European Parliament and the Council, agreed on the reform of the EU anti-dumping mechanism. The new reform should enter into force at the beginning of 2018. According to new rules, the European Commission will calculate the normal value for dumped goods imported from China, giving priorities to actual prices … Continue Reading
As of 1 October, the EU opened its market for some agriculture and industrial goods produced in Ukraine. The new EU Regulation on autonomous tariff measures grants certain benefits for Ukrainian importers. For instance, it waives customs duties for Ukrainian fertilizers, aluminum products or consumer electronics, also giving advantages to EU entrepreneurs that trade or purchase goods or raw materials … Continue Reading
On 29 September, the Estonian Presidency launched the EU Sanctions Map containing up-to-date information on EU sanctions presented in a user-friendly format. It is aimed at tackling the difficulties arising from the information not being all in one place. The map can be accessed here.… Continue Reading
On 26 September, the Commission adopted the annual Delegated Regulation updating the EU dual-use export control list in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 428/2009. The update aligns the list with the decisions taken within the framework of the international non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements in 2016. The changes include updated acronyms and abbreviations, new definitions for certain terms … Continue Reading
On 21 September 2017, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada entered into force provisionally.… Continue Reading
On September 13, 2017, the European Commission published the draft of the EU regulation establishing a common European framework for the review of incoming foreign direct investment (FDI), akin to the process in the US administered by Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS).… Continue Reading
The UK Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) has published proposed revisions to its guidance on the prevention of money laundering and the financing of terrorism for the UK financial services industry. The revisions reflect a number of factors, including the provisions of the proposed new Money Laundering Regulations published by HM Treasury on 15 … Continue Reading
On 18 May, the General Court of the EU dismissed Rami Makhlouf’s annulment application for his listing on the EU’s restrictive measures targeting Syria. The General Court did so on the basis that he is a member of the Makhlouf family, has close ties to and supports the Assad regime, and is an influential businessman … Continue Reading
On 29 May, the Council of the European Union adopted Council Implementing Regulation 2017/904, which implements Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005. With respect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, asset freezes now apply to nine individuals, which can be found in the Annex of Council Implementing Regulation 2017/904. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s (OFSI) notice … Continue Reading
On 30 May, the Council adopted Decision 2017/917 that extends the EU’s sanctions against Syria until 1 June 2018, amending Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP. The sanctions impose travel bans and asset freezes against individuals supporting or associated with the Syrian regime or oppression in the country. A total of three ministers of the Syrian government have … Continue Reading
On 30 May, the European Court of Justice handed down its judgment in an appeal brought by Safa Nicu Sepahan Co., an Iranian company whose main field of activities includes distribution and transmission of power projects. The company successfully applied in November 2014, in its application before the General Court, to have its name removed … Continue Reading
On 1 April 2017, HM Treasury implemented a new US-type financial sanctions enforcement framework, The Policing and Crime Act (the Act), that can potentially fine UK and non-UK companies EUR 1 million or more for breaches of financial sanctions. Part 8 of the Act gives the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM … Continue Reading
The EU has de-listed Medical City Establishment and State Company for Drugs and Medical Appliances from its sanctions against Iraq. The changes implement a UN decision to de-list them at the end of 2016. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/44 amends Council Regulation (EC) 1210/2003.… Continue Reading
