EU Customs Developments: September-November 2017
EU Customs Policy - UCC Implementation and Delegated Act amendments - Amendments to the Union Customs Code (UCC) Delegated Regulation 2015/2446 are still under consideration, with various expert...
View ArticleEU gradually expands sanctions on North Korea and Venezuela
The EU has added several individuals and entities to its list of persons subject to an asset freeze and travel restrictions, as part of sanctions targeting the Russian Federation, Venezuela, and the...
View ArticleEU reinforces human rights-related sanctions against Burma/Myanmar
The EU has extended existing sanctions against Burma/Myanmar, while adding new embargo measures in response to alleged human rights violations against Rohingya and other minorities. Also, there is now...
View ArticleUnited States Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal, Will Re-Impose Sanctions on...
On May 8, 2018, President Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), agreed to by the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and...
View ArticleEU responds to US re-imposition of sanctions on Iran
The European Union has announced a package of measures in response to the re-imposition of US secondary sanctions on European persons and companies with dealings with Iran....By: Fabienne Vermeeren
View ArticleUS Imposes Sanctions Targeting Debt and Equity of the Venezuelan Government
On May 21, 2018, President Trump signed a new Executive Order entitled "Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions with Respect to Venezuela."1 The Executive Order, which became effective on May 21,...
View ArticleEU issues draft update to block re-imposed US sanctions on Iran
The European Commission has proposed EU Blocking Regulation revisions to cover re-imposed US sanctions on Iran. The revisions are expected to enter into force on 6 August 2018, and have a big impact on...
View ArticleSanctions after Brexit – why UK businesses will face a greater compliance burden
The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act, which received royal assent on 23 May 2018, creates a framework for the UK's sanctions and anti-money laundering regimes post-Brexit. Although the Act does...
View ArticleUnited States Issues Wind-Down Authorizations for Iran-Related Transactions
Consistent with President Trump's announcement on May 8, 2018 that the United States was going to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on June 27, 2018, the US Department of...
View ArticleEU Adds Six Companies to Ukraine-Related Asset Freeze List
The EU has added 6 companies to the Ukraine-related asset freeze list based on their involvement in the construction of the Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula....By: Fabienne...
View ArticleUnited States re-imposes certain Iran-related sanctions after 90-day...
On August 6, 2018, the United States introduced Executive Order 13846 to re-impose mainly secondary sanctions targeting Iran. In response to the US action, on August 7, 2018, the European Union issued...
View ArticleUnited States Imposes Sanctions Related to Russia's Use of Chemical Weapons
On August 27, 2018, the US Department of State (State Department) announced that it had determined on August 6, 2018 that the Government of the Russian Federation has used chemical weapons in violation...
View ArticleUnited States Imposes Sanctions Targeting Foreign Interference in US Elections
President Trump has issued an Executive Order (EO) "Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election,"effective September 12, 2018. The EO authorizes the...
View ArticleUS Expands Russian Defense and Intelligence Sanctions, Targets Chinese Parties
On September 20, 2018, the US government imposed sanctions on a Chinese entity and its director for engaging in significant transactions with persons on the Countering America's Adversaries Through...
View ArticleEU issues draft internal compliance programme guidance for dual-use controls
The European Commission recently issued draft "best practices" guidance on the core elements that companies (and other entities) should include in their internal compliance programmes (ICPs) for trade...
View ArticleEU lays ground for sanctions against use and proliferation of chemical weapons
On 15 October 2018, the EU adopted a new sanctions framework to address the use and proliferation of chemical weapons.1 Unusually for EU sanctions regimes, these sanctions do not target any named...
View ArticleUnited States Fully Re-imposes Iran Sanctions and Expands Designations
On November 5, 2018, the United States re-imposed all remaining secondary sanctions on Iran that were previously lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This is the final action...
View ArticleBrexit - Trade in goods under the draft Withdrawal Agreement endorsed on 25...
On 25 November 2018, the EU27 and the UK during a special meeting of the European Council endorsed the draft Withdrawal Agreement as well as a political declaration on the future bilateral...
View ArticleEU sanctions Syrian and Russian parties involved in the use and proliferation...
On 21 January 2019, the EU adopted the first sanctions measures under its new sanctions framework targeting parties involved in the use and proliferation of chemical weapons introduced in October...
View ArticleUK, France, Germany create INSTEX SPV to support trade with Iran
On 31 January 2019, France, Germany and the United Kingdom (the "E3") announced the registration in France of INSTEX SAS ("Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges"), which is a special purpose...
View ArticleEU Customs Developments in 2018
EU Customs Policy - Amendments to the UCC and related legislation - Key developments relating to proposed and adopted amendments to the Union Customs Code (UCC) in 2018include the following: In March...
View ArticleNew EU Horizontal Regulation on safeguard measures in FTAs to increase...
On 14 March 2019, the EU Horizontal Safeguard Regulation 2019/287 ("HSR") entered into force to streamline the implementation of bilateral safeguard measures in EU trade agreements concluded with third...
View ArticleHard or Soft Brexit – does it matter for the origin of goods?
The United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union (EU) will inevitably result in difficulties for businesses using UK content in their products for export under EU Free Trade Agreements, or for UK...
View ArticleIran Threatens Partial JCPOA Suspension; US Imposes Sanctions on Certain...
On May 8, 2019, following Iran's announcement that it intends to suspend certain nuclear proliferation-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the United States issued...
View ArticleNew EU sanctions to target malicious external cyber-attacks
On 17 May 2019, the EU put in place a new legal framework for sanctions targeting malicious cyber activities from outside the EU that threaten the Union or its Member States. The aim is to enhance the...
View ArticleE3 triggers Iran nuclear deal dispute settlement mechanism (while EU...
France, Germany and the United Kingdom, known as the “E3”, announced on 14 January 2020 that they had triggered the dispute resolution mechanism under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”)...
View ArticleEU Customs Developments in 2019
This is a special newsletter with our selection of key EU customs developments in 2019. It is not intended to provide an exhaustive summary. Please see full Newsletter below for more information....By:...
View ArticleCOVID-19 – First EU trade measures focus on health supply, basic needs
In an effort to secure continued supply of goods within the EU during the COVID-19 crisis, the EU has taken a number of initial actions with a focus on essential health products and food. So far, these...
View ArticleEU GSP regime: what next?
The European Commission has launched a consultation to help shape the next Generalised Scheme of Preferences ("GSP") from 2024. Stakeholders have until 3 June 2020 to comment....By: Fabienne Vermeeren
View ArticleEuropean countries enable Iran trade through first INSTEX transaction and...
On 31 March 2020, the Governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (the so-called "E3") confirmed that the first transaction was completed through the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges...
View ArticleBrexit, trade and rules of origin: A few common misunderstandings demystified
Business goes on as much as possible, despite the COVID-19 pandemic – and one question is how this affects Brexit. While a "Hard Brexit" was avoided when the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, a common...
View ArticleProspects of agreement on the future EU-UK relationship by end 2020: Could...
Over four months into the formal bilateral negotiations between the EU and the UK to reach agreement on their future relationship, is there land ahoy? What are the realistic chances of a deal by the...
View ArticleNew EU-Vietnam FTA Enters into Force
A new landmark free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union entered into force on 1 August 2020. The agreement provides expansive preferential treatment for both goods and services,...
View ArticleEU designates nine persons for malicious cyber-attacks threatening the EU or...
On 30 July 2020, the EU designated the first individuals and entities under its 2019 sanctions framework targeting parties involved in cyber-attacks that undermine the EU’s integrity, security and...
View ArticleTaking the EU Customs Union to the next level – an ambitious Action Plan
On 28 September 2020, the European Commission unveiled an ambitious Action Plan with 30 concrete actions intended to make the EU customs union smarter, more effectively digital, and more agile by end...
View ArticleEU extends sanctions on Belarus following Presidential elections
On 2 October 2020, the EU adopted sanctions against Belarus in response to the repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 9 August...
View ArticleEU designates Russian officials, research institute and businessman
On 14 October 2020, the EU designated under its asset freeze six Russian officials and one research institute, in response to the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in August 2020....
View ArticleEU One Step Closer to Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime
The European Commission and the EU's Foreign Policy High Representative have put forward a proposal for a new, non-country-based sanctions programme to address human rights violations and abuses with...
View ArticleNew notable EU asset freeze listings in relation to Belarus and Syria
The EU has recently made certain notable EU asset freeze designations in relation to Belarus1 and Syria, focusing on various government officials – including President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus -...
View ArticleEU marks Human Rights Day with new global human rights sanctions regime
On 7 December 2020, the EU Council adopted a landmark decision and a regulation setting up for the first time a global human rights sanctions framework for the EU. The EU can now respond to serious...
View ArticleEU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement announced on Christmas Eve – a...
After countless deadlines have come and gone, with a deal 90% done but three intransigent sticking points, on 24 December 2020 the UK and EU finally announced "agreement in principle" had been reached...
View ArticleWhat business needs to know about trading goods under the EU-UK Trade and...
In this alert, we focus on the key takeaways for trade in goods under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement ("EU-UK TCA"). Bilateral trade between the UK and EU will be duty free and quota free...
View ArticleEU-China Investment Agreement expected to give EU companies unprecedented...
On 30 December 2020, the EU and China agreed in principle on a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment ("CAI"). The text of the agreement is not yet available,1 but the European Commission called it "the...
View ArticleUS and EU impose coordinated Navalny sanctions
On 2 March 2021, the United States and European Union ("EU") imposed coordinated sanctions in response to the poisoning and imprisonment of Russian opposition politician Aleksey Navalny (and the...
View ArticleEU designates parties under Human Rights and Myanmar regimes
On 22 March 2021, the European Union ("EU") designated a total of 22 individuals and 4 entities as subject to an asset freeze under the EU sanctions regimes relating to Global Human Rights Sanctions...
View ArticleEU introduces new asset freeze regime against Lebanon
The EU has introduced a new asset freeze regime against Lebanon, but without designating any persons under the new regime as of yet. On 30 July 2021, the EU adopted legislative acts establishing a new...
View ArticleEU raising the bar for next EU GSP?
The European Commission has unveiled its newly proposed Generalised Scheme of Preferences ("GSP") for the period 2024-2034 – aiming at a more effective system which delivers benefits to where they are...
View ArticleEU targets Wagner Group and three oil & gas companies over alleged human...
On 13 December 2021, the EU imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a private military entity based in Russia, as well as related entities and individuals, citing human rights abuses and...
View ArticleEuropean Commission issues major proposal on due diligence obligations to...
On 23 February 2022, the European Commission ("Commission") issued its long-awaited Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence to tackle human rights and environmental impacts...
View ArticleRevised EU “Blue Guide” on product rules zooms in on e-commerce,...
On 29 June 2022, the European Commission revealed its updated Blue Guide on the implementation of product rules in the EU. This contains some important changes, reflecting current market surveillance...
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