After a lengthy procedure and a few unexpected changes within the commissioners list from below (i.e. rejection of the French, Romanian and Hungarian nominees) which led to a delay of the prompt start of the new commission mandate, the new Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) Commission officially took office on December 1, 2019, without a … 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
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
By now, avid watchers can agree that Prime Minister May’s resignation will further complicate the already-complex Brexit landscape. Her tenure in office had been looking increasingly challenged for some time. The immediate trigger for her resignation was her final attempt to get her Brexit deal done, which included the offer of the possibility of a … Continue Reading
Our Brexit team resides on both sides of the Atlantic and has multifaceted expertise to help you with any aspect of your Brexit planning and preparation. We have sectoral and subject expertise, backed by political and legal understanding and technical ability for in-depth analysis, which together can ensure you are properly informed and prepared for … Continue Reading
UPDATE: The Tariff Book was updated on May 10, 2019 to reflect an updated action on Section 301 by the Trump Administration that increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products (List 3). How To Use The Tariff Book Because there is so much information included in this Tariff Book, we have made the document fully searchable. … Continue Reading
UPDATE: On April 17, 2019, the European Commission launched a public consultation period on a preliminary list of products from the US to be considered for countermeasures in its own separate case against the US.… Continue Reading
After the UK government overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister May’s Withdrawal Agreement in January, the Prime Minister is back to negotiations with the EU in an attempt to hammer out a Brexit deal favorable for Britain before the 29 March deadline. … Continue Reading
UPDATE: The UK Export Control Joint Unit issued a general license authorizing export of dual-use goods from the UK to the EU in case of hard Brexit. The licence will enter into force on March 29, 2019 at 11 p.m. UK time. … Continue Reading
On October 15, 2018, the Council of the EU adopted new sanctions against people and entities involved in providing financial, technical or material support for or otherwise involved in any business transaction related to proliferation of chemical weapons. In particular, EU sanctions provide for the freezing of assets for sanctioned people/entities.… Continue Reading
In October 2018, the EU decided to amend its list of sanctioned entities and persons in the following countries: Burundi, Guinea and North Korea. Further, the European Commission added new persons to sanctions directed against the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida organizations, and removed restrictions imposed on one Iraqi entity. The up-to-date consolidated list of all entities and people subject to EU … Continue Reading
Directive 2009/43/EC (so-called the “Transfer Directive”) regulates terms and conditions of the transfer of defense-related products within the EU. According to the Transfer Directive, products are subject to licensing requirements to the extent they are “specially designed for military use”. The European Commission, in close cooperation with member states, has undertaken an initiative to clarify the scope of the term “specially designed … Continue Reading
The Council of the EU has decided to prolong the applications of Libya related sanctions against three persons until 2 October 2018. (Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/476)… Continue Reading
In order to implement the UN Security Council resolution of 30 January 2018, the Council of the EU has amended the scope of the exemptions to the embargo on exports of arms to the Central African Republic (CAR). In addition, the EU has amended the criteria for designation of persons and entities under the CAR-related sanctions. (Council Decision (CFSP) … Continue Reading
The UK Trade Bill continued to be debated in the House of Commons with a second reading taking place on 9 January 2018. One of the main contributions of the bill is the establishment of the UK Trade Remedies Authority, an institution responsible for investigations into trade remedies, a responsibility currently assigned to the European … Continue Reading
On 6 December 2017, the Venezuela (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2017 entered into force in the UK. This regulation implements Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November 2017 and provides for the imposition of restrictive measures on persons or entities considered to be involved in undermining democratic principles and the rule of law, as … Continue Reading
On 31 January 2018, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced that Montenegro, Albania, Norway and Ukraine had aligned themselves with EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2426. They have, therefore, extended a part of the sanctions imposed on Russia in relation to its violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity … Continue Reading
On 22 January 2018, the Council made public for the first time the directives given to the European Commission to negotiate a Modernised EU-Chile Association Agreement. Quite interestingly, the Commission should address specific issues such as the promotion and liberalisation of investments, the protection of intellectual property rights, the elimination of non-tariff barriers, the cooperation … Continue Reading
On 5 July 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/849, which is intended to prevent the financial system from being used for money laundering or terrorist financing. Following negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, a provisional agreement was … Continue Reading
Presented by the European Commission on 28 September 2016, the dual-use items Regulation Proposal aims at reviewing the export control regime of dual-use items. The proposal contains amendments to key export control notions, for example, the amending of the definition of “dual-use” to include cyber-surveillance technologies. It also clarifies controls on intangible technology transfer (ITT) … Continue Reading
The EU extended asset-freezes against persons provided in Council Decision 2011/72/CFSP and in Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 who are considered to be responsible for the misappropriation of Tunisian State funds. On 29 January 2018, the sanctions were extended until 31 January 2019 (See Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/141 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/137).… Continue Reading
On 11 December 2017, the Council extended its current sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) until 12 December 2018. These sanctions were adopted in response to the obstruction of the electoral process and the related human rights violations in DRC (See Council (CFSP) Decision 2017/2282). EU Candidate Countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania, … Continue Reading
On 11 January 2018, the EU amended its list under Council Regulation No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against persons and entities associated with the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida organisations (See Commission Implementing Regulation No 2018/50).… Continue Reading
On 22 January 2018, the EU froze the assets of seven Venezuelan officials, notably including the Minister for Interior, the head of the Intelligence Service, the head of the National Electoral Council and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice. These individuals are considered by the EU to be “involved in the non-respect of … Continue Reading
