Tag Archives: EU

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

The EU’s Foremost Economic Retaliation Device – The Anti-Coercion Instrument

Under the leadership of President Trump, the US has adopted a new trade policy that may lead to the adoption of trade measures on imports from the EU. Given the importance of the US/EU trade relationship and the EU’s stated commitment to a free trade environment, the EU has said that it will adopt measures … 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

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

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

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

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

EU Agrees to 10th Package of Sanctions Against Russia

On 25 February 2023, the EU Council adopted the tenth package of restrictive measures in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The new regulations include tighter restrictions on the export of dual-use goods, as well as measures against entities that support the conflict or deliver drones used by Russia. According to a statement by … Continue Reading

BIS Amends Export Administration Regulations with Respect to Russia and Belarus

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a Final Rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR parts 730-774) to add four additional countries to the list of countries excluded from certain license requirements (Supp. No. 3 to part 746) … Continue Reading

The US Imposes New Export Controls on Russia and Regions of Ukraine; UK and EU Assessing Measures

On February 25, 2022, the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) unveiled extensive new export control regulations on Russia and Russian-aligned regions of Ukraine as part of the Biden Administration’s economic sanctions package in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This alert is the second installment of the Biden Administration’s response to the … Continue Reading

The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union Impose a Series of New Targeted and Territorial Russia-Related Sanctions

Additional U.S. Sanctions on Russian Financial Institutions, State-Owned and Private Entities, and Russian Individuals Deemed Close to Putin (February 24) On February 24, the United States responded to the Russian-Ukraine conflict by blocking certain Russian financial institutions and individuals, and imposing varying degrees of sanctions prohibitions on other listed Russian banks and entities, including their … Continue Reading

Made in Italy – International Opportunities and Challenges

There is a rising tide of positivism around the Made in Italy tag. Assisted by the appointment of the Draghi government, the prospect (at least, from the perspective of many foreign investors) of a period of political stability, anticipation of a rise of consumer spending pent-up during the global lockdown, the economic boost to the … Continue Reading

UPDATE: The Latest on EU Export Controls of Dual Use Goods – Regulation Published

The new EU regulation on export control of dual use goods has been published in the EU official journal. It means that the upgraded controls over exports of dual use items will enter into force on September 9, 2021. Continue reading below our previous analysis of the details of this new regulation and all changes … Continue Reading

March EU Sanctions Updates

On 3 March, the Council of the EU decided to prolong sanctions against individuals responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state fund. On 12 March, the Council of the EU decided to extend sanctions against those involved in compromising Ukraine’s territorial integrity. On 12 March, the Council of the EU decided to revoke the sanctions … Continue Reading

China MOFCOM Issues First Order of 2021 – Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Applications of Foreign Laws

On Saturday 9 January 2021, the PRC Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued MOFCOM Order No. 1 of 2021 on Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Applications of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures (the Rules). The Rules specify that they were formulated pursuant to the PRC National Security Law for the express purpose of “counteracting the impact … Continue Reading

What are International Sanctions?

What are international sanctions? What are primary and secondary sanctions? What are extraterritorial effects and how will that impact multinational operations? The changing international sanctions regulations produce dizzying regulatory landscape, and complex as well as confusing compliance environment. To help lift the curtain a bit on this topic, Trade Practitioner José María Viñals (partner, Madrid/Brussels), also … Continue Reading

Potential EU Retaliatory Tariffs on the Horizon – Is Your Business Prepared?

On October 13, 2020 the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued its latest ruling in the long-standing Boeing-Airbus dispute, granting the EU the authority to impose compensatory tariffs totaling up to US$4 billion on US goods in response to allegedly illegal subsidies provided to Boeing.  Once again, US exporting companies find themselves in the crosshairs, as … Continue Reading
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