Jacquelyn MacLennan on EU

EU 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. Separately, it also...more

10/19/2020 / Arms Embargo , Asset Freeze , EU , Russia , Sanctions , Travel Ban

EU 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 2020 presidential...more

10/9/2020 / Asset Freeze , Belarus Sanctions , Economic Sanctions , EU , Member State , Travel Ban

Taking 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 2025. Key aims (once...more

10/7/2020 / Coronavirus/COVID-19 , Customs Infringement , EU , European Commission , Risk Management

The Internal Market Bill, the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the risk of no deal on the EU-UK future relationship

The Government's proposed Internal Market Bill has prompted much debate regarding the UK's approach to international law, as well as the internal constitutional architecture of the UK. The EU has raised the prospect of a...more

9/23/2020 / Belfast/Good Friday Agreement , Customs , Dispute Resolution , EU , No-Deal Brexit , Northern Ireland , Proposed Legislation , Subsidies , UK , UK Brexit , Withdrawal Agreement

EU designates nine persons for malicious cyber-attacks threatening the EU or its Member States

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

ESG takes center stage amid economic crisis and social unrest

Strong ESG credentials and long-term plans to improve their relationship with society and the environment are increasingly important to ensure companies’ access to capital. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters...more

Prospects of agreement on the future EU-UK relationship by end 2020: Could fish and State aid sink the deal?

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 end of this year?...more

8/3/2020 / Bilateral Agreements , Boris Johnson , EU , European Court of Justice (ECJ) , Fishing Industry , Free Trade Agreements , No-Deal Brexit , State Aid , Transitional Arrangements , UK , UK Brexit , Withdrawal Agreement

UK adopts first autonomous sanctions regime targeting human rights abusers

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

7/15/2020 / Asset Freeze , Economic Sanctions , EU , Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime , Human Rights , Travel Ban , UK , UK Brexit

The European Commission eyes the addition of a market investigation tool to its 60-year-old toolbox - but is it a chisel or a...

On 2 June 2020, the European Commission published its roadmap on the possible introduction of a ‘new competition tool’ that would allow it to initiate market investigations into perceived structural competition problems, with...more

6/3/2020 / Anti-Competitive , Antitrust Investigations , Competition Authorities , Competition Toolbox , Corporate Counsel , Enforcement Actions , EU , European Commission , UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

EU 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....more

4/10/2020 / Developing Countries , EU , European Commission , GSP Regime , Imports , Public Consultations , Tariffs

European countries enable Iran trade through first INSTEX transaction and Swiss payment mechanism

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 ("INSTEX"),...more

4/3/2020 / Economic Sanctions , EU , Exports , Food Supply , Imports , INSTEX , Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges (INSTEX SAS) , Iran , Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) , Medical Supplies , Payment Systems , Swiss Banks , United States

COVID-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 EU actions include 1)...more

3/25/2020 / Customs and Border Protection , EU , Exports , Medical Devices , Member State , Personal Protective Equipment , Supply Chain , Trade Policy

EU 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. ...more

1/29/2020 / Administrative Proceedings , Classifications of Goods , Country of Origin , Customs , Draft Implementation Regulations , EU , European Commission , Fair Trade Agreements (FTA) , Nomenclature , Tariffs , Trial Court Orders , UK Brexit , Valuation

E3 triggers Iran nuclear deal dispute settlement mechanism (while EU sanctions lifting continues for now)

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”) due to concerns about...more

1/17/2020 / China , Dispute Resolution , E3+3 , Economic Sanctions , EU , Failure to Perform , France , Germany , Iran , Iran Sanctions , Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) , Russia , UK , UN Security Council , United Nations , Winding Down

New 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 EU's cyber resilience...more

5/22/2019 / Asset Freeze , Cyber Attacks , Cybersecurity , Economic Sanctions , EU , Foreign Entities , Intellectual Property Protection , Member State , Russia , Travel Ban

Iran Threatens Partial JCPOA Suspension; US Imposes Sanctions on Certain Iranian Metals Sectors

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 a new Executive order...more

The EU loan syndication impact assessment is out: more competition scrutiny ahead?

Setting the scene The long anticipated European Commission (DG COMP) report on "EU loan syndication and its impact on competition in credit markets" (see here) has finally been published. The study primarily focuses on the...more

4/15/2019 / Anticompetitive Agreements , Banks , Borrowers , Competition , Contract Negotiations , Contract Terms , Duty of Care , EU , European Commission , France , Germany , Hedging , Impact Assessments , Information Reports , Infrastructure , Interest Rates , Lenders , Leveraged Buyout , Loans , Netherlands , Poland , Risk Management , Spain , Syndicated Loans , UK

Jacquelyn MacLennan

White & Case LLP

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