Since April 2020, we have collaborated with foreign law firm partners to monitor and report on the most relevant government measures worldwide addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest version of the guide includes a concise, corporate-focused and user-friendly list of government measures and covers areas like tax, restructuring, business immigration, government contracts and international trade.
March 2021
United States Implements Multiple Sanctions and Export Restrictions on Russia
On March 2, 2021, the Departments of Commerce, State and the Treasury imposed sanctions and export restrictions on numerous Russian officials and government entities in response to the Russian Federation’s imprisonment and alleged previous poisoning of opposition figure Aleksey Navalny. These actions follow similar sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom. Dozens…
BIS Implements Additional Export Restrictions on Burma
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On March 4, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced further export restrictions on Burma initially implemented in February 2021. See Update of February 18, 2021. These actions are in response to the coup in Burma on February 1, 2021, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian…
USTR Again Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Certain Medical Products from China Necessary for COVID-19 Response
By Scott E. Diamond** on
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that it will continue to exclude Section 301 duties on imports of certain Chinese medical care products needed to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The current exclusions were set to expire on March 31, 2021 (see Update of December 23, 2020); however, with this…
U.S. and EU Temporarily Suspend WTO Retaliatory Tariffs on Large Civilian Aircraft
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On March 5, 2021, the United States and the European Union (EU) issued a joint statement announcing a suspension of World Trade Organization (WTO)-authorized retaliatory tariffs in the trade dispute involving government subsidies for large civilian aircraft. The statement notes the suspension “will cover all tariffs both on aircraft as well as on non-aircraft products,…
U.S. and UK Temporarily Suspend WTO Retaliatory Tariffs on Large Civilian Aircraft
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On March 4, 2021, the United States and the United Kingdom released a joint statement announcing a suspension of World Trade Organization (WTO)-authorized retaliatory tariffs in the WTO’s longest-running trade dispute involving government subsidies for large civilian aircraft. The statement notes that the UK ceased applying retaliatory tariffs on January 1, 2021, and that the…
CIT Questions Use of First Sale Rule for NME Countries Commonly Used to Mitigate China Tariffs
By David M. Schwartz on
The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has called into question the “First Sale Rule” tariff mitigation strategy deployed by an increasing number of companies to reduce Section 301 tariffs on China-sourced goods. In Meyer Corp. v. U.S., No. 13-00154, Slip Op. 21-26 (March 1, 2021), the CIT questioned whether the First Sale Rule…
USTR Releases President Biden’s 2021 Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On March 1, 2021, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released President Joseph Biden’s 2021 Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report. Providing an overview of “a comprehensive trade policy in support of the administration’s effort to help the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better,” the report states…