The UK government has officially confirmed that—in 2021—it will launch the corruption sanctions regime. This was confirmed in the recently published policy paper titled Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (see, at page 48).… Continue Reading
International M&A practitioners are used to dealing with CFIUS for any transaction involving assets in the US. The Europeans M&A practitioners are, however, catching up, and many multijurisdictional deals will now face clearance in a number of countries. The latest addition to the list, the UK National Security and Investment Bill, is broad in scope … Continue Reading
On November 11, 2020, the UK government announced a new NSI regime. Under the new regime, certain direct foreign investments in the UK will require mandatory notification to, and prior approval by, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) before completion.… Continue Reading
The latest edition of our transatlantic export controls and sanctions wrap-up is now available. In this publication, we look at the shifting regulatory framework for international trade compliance on both sides of the Atlantic. In this issue, we cover:… Continue Reading
The latest edition of our transatlantic export controls and sanctions update is available. In this publication, we look at the shifting regulatory framework for international trade compliance on both sides of the Atlantic. In this issue, we cover:… Continue Reading
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
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
“We are going to win so much” is a staple soundbite from President Donald Trump, and also representative of his administration’s approach to international negotiations. President Trump favors bilateral trade deals and has been optimistically touting the US as the UK’s first FTA partner after Brexit. From the UK’s perspective, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also … Continue Reading
The EU’s trade commissioner had urged member states to ramp up screening levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) in order to prevent predatory takeovers of key businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.… Continue Reading
The EU-27 and the UK have exchanged draft negotiating texts on their future trading relationship following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, indicating a polarity about how both sides see this future relationship.… Continue Reading
This blog post is being published for The Trade Practitioner as part of a content partnership with our Competition – Antitrust Practice. Please contact Dickie Chan and Nicola Elam with any questions. Today, the UK government announced that “supermarkets [are] to join forces to feed the nation” as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak continues to surge. Competition … Continue Reading
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
This blog post is being published for The Trade Practitioner as part of a content partnership with our Competition – Antitrust Practice. Please contact Nicola Elam and Dickie Chan with any questions. Beyond relaxing night-time delivery restrictions on supermarkets to keep up with the surge in demand for basic grocery items, it has been reported … Continue Reading
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
We have a global effort to help businesses understand the variety of impacts, on the legal, regulatory and commercial fronts, caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.… Continue Reading
Amidst the new coronavirus outbreak, it has become apparent globally that prices at some retailers and online platforms for coronavirus-related products – such as hand sanitiser gel and respiratory masks – have increased sharply.… Continue Reading
OFSI, part of the HM Treasury, working toward ensuring that financial sanctions are properly implemented and enforced in the UK, has updated numerous financial sanctions that are currently in force. The recent updates are for financial sanctions in the following regions and industries: ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Organizations Nicaragua Venezuela Central African Republic Ukraine – Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity Syria Libya … Continue Reading
The UK has reportedly suspended the granting of arms export licenses for Turkey in relation to weapons that could potentially be used for military operations in Syria. The suspension follows British ministers ordering a full review into Turkish arms licenses. Liz Truss, the UK’s International Trade Secretary, commented that the International Trade Department “will take into account any developments in the … Continue Reading
On August 14, 2019, the UK government introduced a new control on the export of submersible vessels and related equipment, software and technology to Russia. The new control has been introduced due to Russia’s development of capabilities enabling it to track, access and disrupt undersea communication cables. The UK government considers these developments as a risk to national security. Assessment of … Continue Reading
The UK Committees on Arms Export Controls are conducting an inquiry examining the government’s 2017 Strategic Export Controls Annual Report. On June 24, 2019, both HMRC and the ECJU gave written evidence for the inquiry. … Continue Reading
On June 20, 2019, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment allowing Campaign Against Arms Trade’s (CAAT) appeal of the High Court’s decision. The claim brought by CAAT was for a judicial review of export licensing decisions made by the Secretary of State for International Trade in relation to military exports to Saudi Arabia, which could potentially be … Continue Reading
