The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has announced the initiation of an investigation into the economic impact on the United States of all trade agreements. The investigation, Economic Impact of Trade Agreements Implemented Under Trade Authorities Procedures, 2021 Report, is required by section 105(f)(2) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of
CFIUS 2018 Annual Report Reveals Continued Focus on Mitigation Measures and Offers a First Look at Mandatory Declaration Reviews
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency committee headed by the Department of the Treasury, has released its annual report for 2018. CFIUS is authorized to review transactions that could result in the control of U.S. businesses by foreign persons or companies, as well as non-controlling investments by foreign
UPDATED Country-by-Country Guide: Government Measures Taken in Response to COVID-19
In collaboration with our foreign law firm partners, we continue to update our chart of COVID-19 measures taken by governments around the world. The government measures in the chart include economic, labor and employment, health and safety, and export and import measures. Below is a list of the updated countries and a summary of the
U.S. Tightens Export Controls for Hong Kong – Pompeo States That If China Treats Hong Kong as “One Country, One System,” So Must the United States
On June 29, 2020, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States was ending exports of U.S.-origin defense equipment to Hong Kong and “will take steps toward imposing the same restrictions on U.S. defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong as it does for China.” The secretary noted that the United States “can
OFAC Sanctions Target Iran’s Metals Sectors
On June 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that its recent designations to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Entities (SDN) List targeted Iran’s steel, aluminum, copper, and iron sectors. OFAC designated eight entities operating in the Iranian metals sector including companies from Iran, the United
Department of Commerce Partially Delays Electronic Export Information (EEI) Filing Requirements for Certain Shipments to China, Russia and Venezuela
On June 25, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced that it would be delaying the effective date for certain filing requirements set forth in April 2020 regulations on military-related exports to China, Russia and Venezuela. After significant pushback from industry representatives that more time was needed to transition to
State Department and OFAC Sanction Syrian Persons and Entities for Continued Disruption and Prevention of Ceasefire in Northern Syria
On June 26, 2020, the State Department issued a Federal Register notice announcing that it has sanctioned certain Syrian individuals and entities it has determined “are responsible for or complicit in, have directly or indirectly engaged in, attempted to engage in, or financed, the obstruction, disruption, or prevention of a ceasefire in northern Syria” or
USTR Issues Notice Seeking Public Comment on Extending China Section 301 List/Tranche 4 Product Exclusions, Including Exemptions for Certain Medical Supplies
On June 23, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on whether extensions for up to 12 months should be granted for particular products that have received exclusions in the China Section 301 process from the 7.5 percent tariffs on imports from China with an
USTR Requests Comments on Modifying List of Products and Tariffs in Ongoing WTO Large Civil Aircraft Dispute
On June 24, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a Federal Register notice concerning certain U.S. actions to enforce its rights in the ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute with the European Union (EU) over large civil aircraft. The notice seeks public comment on whether certain products of current or former
USTR Issues Notices Seeking Public Comment on Extending China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for List/Tranche 2 Products Set to Expire in September and October 2020
On June 22, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released two Federal Register notices seeking public comment on whether extensions for up to 12 months should be granted for particular products that have received exclusions in the China Section 301 process from the 25 percent tariff on imports from China with an