April 2020

On April 7, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a temporary final rule (“Rule”) to establish export restrictions on certain types of personal protective equipment (PPE) products and respirators (“Covered Products”) used in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rule implements the presidential memorandum dated April 3,…

On April 17, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) filed a notification of exemptions (the “Exemptions”) that identifies 10 exemptions from the temporary final rule published on April 10, 2020 (the “Rule”), which restricts the export from the United States of certain personal protective equipment (PPE) and respirators in the response to the COVID-19…

On April 18, 2020, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order in an effort to support U.S. businesses that have faced significant financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic response by allowing deferment of duty payments. The order gives the Treasury Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the flexibility to allow for a…

On April 16, 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a fact sheet noting that the sanctions programs it administers generally allow for legitimate humanitarian-related trade, assistance or activity under existing laws and regulations. The fact sheet provides consolidated guidance highlighting the most relevant exemptions, exceptions and authorizations for…

Please join us for a webinar on Thursday, April 30 from noon to 1:15 p.m. ET discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international trade. During the webinar we will discuss:

  • U.S. and foreign government restrictions on the export of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Impact on U.S. customs duties
    • Section 301 tariff product exclusions

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On March 17, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) notified Congress of its intent to negotiate a trade agreement with the Republic of Kenya (see Trump and Trade Update of March 18, 2020) and shortly thereafter solicited public comments and announced a public hearing on the proposed United States-Kenya trade agreement.…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published amendments in the Federal Register to the North Korea Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. 510.101-.901 (NKSR), which became effective April 10, 2020. The new amendments incorporate into the NKSR certain provisions of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016…

Despite a tightening of economic sanctions on Venezuela under President Donald Trump, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) occasionally issues General Licenses clarifying, authorizing or exempting certain U.S. activities involving the Venezuelan government  or entities directly and indirectly affiliated with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A (PdVSA).  Starting in January 2019, President…