2017

Almost immediately after the Trump administration’s announcement that Iran was in compliance with the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the State Department designated an additional 18 Iranian entities and individuals for engaging in activities supporting Iran’s continued testing of…

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has released a detailed and comprehensive summary of the negotiating objectives for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In a brief statement upon the release, Lighthizer stated that the Trump administration will seek an agreement “that reduces the U.S. trade deficit and is fair for…

As we previously reported, Executive Order 13796 of April 29, 2017, requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the secretary of State, secretary of the Treasury, attorney general and the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, to conduct comprehensive performance reviews of all…

On June 20, 2017, pursuant to four executive orders (EOs), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) subjected to U.S. economic sanctions more individuals and entities involved in the ongoing Crimean conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These actions…

After several months of internal review, the Trump administration on June 16 announced revisions to U.S. policy toward Cuba. The internal review, led by the president’s National Security Council, engaged in an interagency review that included input from the Departments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Transportation and the Treasury. Additionally, President Trump met with…

After several months of negotiations in the Committee on Foreign Relations, the full Senate on June 15, 2017 considered and passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 98-2 seeking to hold both Iran and Russia accountable for their recent destabilizing activities in world affairs. S. 722 at Title I contains the Iran component of…

Groups of Senate and House Republicans have sent letters to President Donald Trump urging him not to reverse Obama administration policies that began to relax longstanding economic sanctions and open up the country for limited trade. Seven House Republicans wrote Trump stating, “Reversing course would incentivize Cuba to once again become dependent on countries like…

As comments in the ongoing Section 232 investigation into steel imports are being filed, we highlight two recent submissions that reflect the dichotomy of views on this trade issue. Both the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) filed comments with the Department of Commerce on May 31, 2017.…

On May 24, 2017, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In addition to providing a short history of the trade agreement and an overview of certain key provisions, this timely report provides insight into certain trade trends and the agreement’s economic effects on the…

On May 24, 2017, the Department of Commerce held a public hearing as part of its investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into the impact of steel imports on national security (see our previous client update for more information). In opening remarks, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stated that the…