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
The ECJU has amended the Export Control Order 2008 through the implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/514. The Export Control (Amendment) Order 2019, which came into force on June 30, 2019, amends the list of defense-related products. The changes correspond to updates made to the European Military List. In addition, updates were made to remove Eritrea from the list of countries embargoed … 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
Please save-the-date for the upcoming symposium organized by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) that will cover a range of export control topics.… 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
With continuing uncertainty, there is still a lack of clarity on what the final Brexit arrangements between the UK and the EU will look like. Many companies have been planning for the implications of Brexit for some time, and some still need to consider how Brexit may affect their operations. Both the UK government and … Continue Reading
The Department for International Trade has produced guidance, published on August 23, 2018, informing stakeholders how export controls would be affected if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. The notice explains how export licensing requirements for different groups of items would change and what the UK government proposed to simplify licensing. The export of many controlled items within … Continue Reading
The export control joint unit (ECJU) has amended the Export Control Order 2008 with effect from September 14, 2018. The new Order extends the controls on firearms to include devices capable of being converted to firearms. The ECJU has also updated the consolidated control list of strategic military and dual-use items that require export authorization. The additional devices include the … Continue Reading
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury and works to ensure that financial sanctions are properly implemented and enforced in the UK, has updated a number of financial sanctions currently in force. The recent updates are as follows: Financial sanctions, Libya; Financial sanctions, Ukraine (Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity); Financial sanctions, North Korea (Democratic People’s … Continue Reading
Our Aerospace & Defense Group is pleased to partner once again with EGADD and Strategic Shipping Company Ltd to host the upcoming “The ITAR ‘Virus’ Continues to EARvolve!” US Export Controls Workshop in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, Monday, July 23 – Wednesday, July 25, 2018. 2018 welcomes the 11th anniversary of the workshop.… 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 29 January 2018, the ECJU published a guidance on the MOD Form 680 allowing firms to apply for permission to release information about classified goods and services to foreign nations. According to this guidance, the outcome of a MOD Form 680 request depends on various factors, including the complexity of the project, protective opportunities … Continue Reading
On 17 January 2018, the UK’s ECJU of the UK Department of International Trade updated the Consolidated Control List of Strategic Military and Dual-use Items that Require Export Authorisation. The updated list notably takes into account the changes made to the EU dual-use export control list (See Annex I of the above link).… Continue Reading
On 4 January 2018, the Export Council Joint Unit (ECJU) of the UK Department for International Trade revoked Open General Export Licences (OGELs) applicable to dual-use technology items, cryptographic development, low value shipments, and dual-use items for oil and gas exploration, as well as OGELs for Turkey. The ECJU suggested they will be replaced very … Continue Reading
On 10 January 2018, the European Commission published important notice warning of the consequences that Brexit will have in the field of industrial products[1], which are subject to CE Marking requirements when placed on the European Union (EU) market. For those products, the European Commission confirmed that, to demonstrate compliance with CE Marking requirements for … Continue Reading
