In relation to Russia, the UK has introduced a new sanctions prohibition on the provision of legal advisory services, amended the process for the investigation of trade sanctions offences, and added the Kherson and...more
The EU's new Deforestation Regulation requires companies trading in cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, as well as products derived from these commodities, to conduct extensive diligence on the value chain...more
The application of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism ("CBAM") is fast approaching for importers and manufacturers of products in the cement, fertiliser, iron, steel, aluminium, hydrogen and electricity producing...more
The European Union has adopted a new regulation to curb the EU market's impact on global deforestation and forest degradation around the world, as well as protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. The EU Deforestation...more
The UK has sanctioned 'financial fixers' for Russian oligarchs, extended the trust services prohibition to all persons subject to the asset freeze, and issued a General Licence permitting the restructuring or amendment of...more
The proposed Windsor Framework revising the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland will, if implemented, solve some of the problems inherent in the operation of the Protocol and introduce collaborative processes for resolving...more
On December 13, 2022, the Council of the European Union ("the Council") and European Parliament came to a provisional agreement on the final text of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism ("CBAM") regulation. The compromise...more
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 rules, and fills some...more
The Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") has opined for the first time on the controversial 1996 EU Blocking Regulation,1 which prohibits EU companies from complying with certain US sanctions...more
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 destabilising activities in...more
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 needed, and at the same...more
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 sanctions framework...more
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 and Myanmar/Burma.
...more
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 related US determination that...more
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 most ambitious...more
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 provided the relevant...more
1/4/2021
/ Cooperation Agreement ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Customs ,
EU ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Agreements ,
UK ,
UK Brexit ,
Value-Added Tax (VAT) ,
WTO
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 on their future...more
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 human rights violations and...more
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 -
The Belarusian and...more
11/11/2020
/ Asset Freeze ,
Belarus Sanctions ,
Due Diligence ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
Exemptions ,
Member State ,
National Security ,
State-Owned Enterprises ,
Syria ,
Travel Ban
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 asset freezes and travel...more
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. Separately, it also...more
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 2020 presidential...more
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 2025. Key aims (once...more
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 economic competitiveness....more
8/10/2020
/ Asset Freeze ,
China ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Cyber Threats ,
Economic Sanctions ,
EU ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
List of Specified Persons (LSP) ,
Member State ,
Misappropriation ,
Russia ,
Travel Ban
On 6 July 2020, the UK adopted its first autonomous sanctions regime, imposing asset freezes and travel bans on 47 individuals and two entities across the world accused of serious human rights violations. The new regime marks...more