The UK and the EU have begun formulating their responses to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. While the UK is still assessing its options and consulting with British businesses, the EU has already moved forward with plans to...more
The EU’s 16th sanctions package on Russia represents a significant expansion of measures, including additional restrictions on Russian banks, further oil and gas related restrictions, and new export and import restrictions. ...more
On 12 March 2025, the EU announced that it will impose countermeasures in response to new tariffs imposed by the US on steel and aluminium imports. The EU countermeasures are twofold: First, the European Commission will...more
From 9 January 2025, EU payment service provides are required to shift away from transaction-based sanctions screenings for certain intra-EU instant credit payments Regulation (EU) 2024/886, the “Instant Payment Regulation”,...more
As 2025 begins, the foreign direct investment (FDI) landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Driven by geopolitical shifts, technological advancements, and changing regulatory priorities, businesses must navigate an...more
In line with international and European developments, Ireland has introduced a new regime to provide for a process to allow for certain transactions that may present risks to the security or public order of the State to be...more
On 16 December 2024, the EU adopted several new sanctions measures, including its 15th package of sanctions against Russia which expands the sectoral and financial restrictions applicable to Russian persons. The EU also...more
The recent EU and UK sanctions adopted against Russia, have impacted economic operators in many ways. This article provides an overview of the current sanctions prohibitions affecting holders and traders of intellectual...more
The U.K. government has used its powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the UK’s version of CFIUS) to order a Chinese-registered firm to sell its stake in a British semiconductor company....more
In early March the European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a new EU regulation concerning forced labour in supply chains. The European Parliament has approved the English-language text of a proposed...more
Significant legislative changes have been made to the UK’s sanctions regime in the first half of September 2024, namely: These new amendments demonstrate the UK’s further efforts in imposing penalties against sanctions...more
The below alert provides a high-level overview of several measures recently adopted by the European Union (the “EU”) targeting Russia and Belarus, which include: (1) A new Russia sanctions regime, adopted on 27 May 2024,...more
The UK has introduced new registration requirements on persons carrying on certain activities (e.g. political influence activities) for foreign states in the United Kingdom, which is expected to come into force in the course...more
On 24 April 2024, the European Union adopted a directive criminalizing the following sanctions violations: The directive brings significant changes to EU sanctions enforcement by harmonising the rules on the violation of EU...more
The new EU notification requirements relating to transfers of funds out of the EU by EU entities with a certain level of direct or indirect Russian ownership enters into force soon. The reporting obligation has a broad scope,...more
On 11 March 2024, the UK government issued new amending regulations, the Export Control (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (the “Amending Regulations”), which update the Export Control Order 2008 and the retained EU Dual-Use...more
October 2023 marked the first anniversary of the enhanced partnership between the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the United Kingdom Office of Financial Sanctions...more
During the course of 2023, the screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) continued to be an item at the top of the agenda when planning and executing global M&A transactions, as well as greenfield cross-border investments....more
As of 1 March 2024, a licence will be required to export technologies relating to quantum computers, and advanced electronic components such as semiconductors, from France to non-EU countries....more
A final decision with respect to the location of the new EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (“AMLA”) is expected on 22 February 2024, but it’s clear that AMLA, which the European...more
France is currently strengthening its foreign direct investment (“FDI”) screenings regime. In addition to the new resources allocated to the Government unit in charge of the French FDI laws, the French government adopted, on...more
The UK is creating a new Office for Trade Sanctions Implementation, which will sit within the Department for Business and Trade and will be responsible for the civil enforcement of the UK’s trade sanctions regime (i.e....more
The French Minister of Economy formally notified, under Article L151-3 of the Monetary and Financial Code, its decision not to authorise a foreign investment by a U.S. company on 6 October 2023. Notably the target was not a...more
The UK has now signed its accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is almost the final stage in the UK’s accession to the CPTPP, with only UK and...more
The increasing number and complexity of foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regimes requires careful navigation when planning and executing global M&A transactions, as well as greenfield cross-border investments. In...more