The EU has announced that it has reviewed the list of persons and entities designated on its sanctions against Guinea-Bissau and decided that the restrictive measures should continue to apply to them. The sanctions target people seeking to prevent the restoration of the constitutional order or taking action that undermines stability in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and in particular those … Continue Reading
In a press release published on 6 March 2017, the EU informs the Democratic Republic of Congo that it remains ready to impose new targeted sanctions as a result of the serious human rights violations that have recently occurred in Congo, the refusal of President Joseph Kabila to stand down at the end of his … Continue Reading
Likely Major Policy Developments President-Elect Trump will enter the White House facing a dramatic decline in global trade growth. A recent World Trade Organization (WTO) report notes that 2016 marks the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the 2008 financial crisis. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo called slowing trade growth “a wake-up call,” … Continue Reading
G-7 Leaders’ Declaration. The G-7 Leaders’ Declaration issued on Friday from Ise-Shima, Japan, touched on topics such as the global economy, trade, maritime security, cyberspace, anti-corruption, infrastructure, global health challenges, climate change and female empowerment. The Leaders advocated TPP member states ratify the agreement, while also addressing the global excess steel capacity issue, government subsidies … Continue Reading
President Barack Obama issued a new Executive Order and restrictions related to North Korea, while the Administration eased some U.S. sanctions against Cuba last week. The President and his family traveled to Cuba on Sunday and will stop in Argentina later in the week. The White House announced early last week that South Africa had … Continue Reading
Over 600 million people – 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) – lack access to electricity, stifling social and economic development. The US Congress recently passed the Electrify Africa Act of 2015, a bipartisan measure that President Obama will soon sign into law. The Act is designed to encourage US and international development organizations to … Continue Reading
TPP – Agreement Signed; Warnings of a Slow Congressional Process. After the Thursday signing ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand, Ambassador Froman said the United States is developing a “full implementation plan” to make sure developing countries, such as Vietnam, uphold their obligations. At a Tuesday meeting with President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) … Continue Reading
Frank Samolis, our International Trade Practice Co-Chair, was recently quoted in a Global Trade Review article titled “Chinese investment along One Belt One Road revealed.” In the article, he discusses the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the United States’ waning influence on trade in Africa. He notes that “The TPP poses a challenge for … Continue Reading
