Tag Archives: European Union

EU Expands Sanctions Regime Against Republic of Belarus After 14th Package of Sanctions on Russia

On 29 June 2024, the Council of the EU extended its restrictive measures against Republic of Belarus (Belarus) due to its involvement in Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine. These measures aim to prevent Belarus from facilitating the evasion of sanctions against Russia and are in line with the EU’s recent efforts to strengthen existing prohibitions … 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

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

Transatlantic Trade Week in Rewind (Week of February 1, 2021)

In the week of February 1, 2021, here are key developments in transatlantic trade: The EU’s COVID-19 vaccine export control mechanism is unable to escape ongoing criticism and a proposal was raised that would invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, increasing UK-EU tension Lawmakers in the US attempt to move the “American Rescue … Continue Reading

This Week in Transatlantic Trade

This week in transatlantic trade: Countries on both sides of the Atlantic are accelerating their efforts to stave off the spread of the COVID-19 variants by speeding up vaccination and adding travel restrictions The EU intends to increase export transparency on COVID experimental vaccines produced within its boundaries; and the European Commission is going to … 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

It’s August in an Election Year – No Rest for the Trump Administration on Trade Actions

Despite the Congressional recess and continued focus on COVID-19 economic relief, Trump officials announced several major trade actions over the last week that could impact global trade and supply chains.  Here is a quick round-up of recent developments and what may be coming next.… Continue Reading

Considerations for Post-COVID-19 Trade in the World of New Normal

The corona pandemic, the ongoing Brexit and the emerging dominance of China in global markets are among the issues that pose multifaceted challenges for international trade relations. At a time when new Free Trade Agreements are being negotiated, we would like to examine how international trade can be shaped in the “World of New Normal” … Continue Reading

EU Seeks Public Comments on Policies for Anti-money Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism

On May 5, 2020, the European Commission published (i) the Communication of the Action Plan (AP) for a comprehensive EU policy on the prevention of money laundering and financing terrorism (AML/CFT); (ii) the Delegated Regulation updating the countries identified as high risk countries for AML/CFT; and (iii) the methodology for the identification of high risk … Continue Reading

Polish Government to Adopt Stricter Control Over Private Investments

Like various other European Union member states, Poland has taken the first step to passage of a new act intended to screen foreign direct investments in Polish companies. The goal of the legislation is to protect Polish companies against take-over by non-EU/EEA investors. This post is being published for The Trade Practitioner as part of … Continue Reading

Does Digital Service Tax Matter To You? New Section 301 Investigation – Comment Period Now Open

On June 2, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would be initiating new Section 301 investigations examining digital services taxes (DSTs) adopted or under consideration by Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.  USTR is requesting comments to inform their … Continue Reading

Coronavirus and Trade – US and EU Travel Bans

On March 11, 2020, President Trump announced via a nationally televised address that effective from 11:59 p.m. EDT, March 13, 2020, he would suspend or limit travel into the US from foreign nationals who have recently been in certain European countries in an effort to curtail the person-to-person transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the … Continue Reading

Off to a Bumpy Start – UK Trade Negotiations With the EU and US

This blog post is being published for The Trade Practitioner as part of a content partnership with our Brexit Legal blog. Please contact Matthew Kirk with any questions. In the last week of February 2020 – amid some chest-beating ferocity on both sides – the EU and UK published their respective negotiating mandates for the … Continue Reading

European Commission – Get to Know the Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) Commission and Priorities

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
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