On June 23, 2016, the Federal Register published Presidential Notice of June 21, 2016 – Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Western Balkans which extends for an additional year the national emergency first declared in EO 13219 (June 26, 2001) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions of persons engaged in, or assisting, sponsoring, or supporting…
On June 23, 2016, the Federal Register published Presidential Notice of June 21, 2016 – Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to North Korea which extends for an additional year the national emergency first declared in Executive Order (EO) 13466 (June 26, 2008), to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material…
On June 21, 2016, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) published in the Federal Register a document stating that it had instituted an investigation [Investigation No. U.S.-Chile FTA–103–029] and was seeking comments regarding Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the U.S.-Chile FTA Rules of Origin, following receipt on May 24, 2016, of a request from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), under authority delegated by the President and pursuant to section 103(a) of the United…
On June 21, 2016, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding thirty-six (36) persons to the Unverified List (the ‘‘Unverified List’’ or UVL), and adding an additional address for one (1) person currently listed on the UVL. The 36 persons are being added to the UVL on the basis that BIS could not verify their bona fides because an…
On June 21, 20916, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking [Docket No. TTB–2016–0004; Notice No. 159] to amend its regulations governing the importation of distilled spirits, wine, beer and malt beverages, tobacco products, processed tobacco, and cigarette papers and tubes. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify and streamline import procedures, and support the implementation of the International Trade Data System and…
On June 21, 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. APHIS-2016-0016] amending our regulations regarding the importation or exportation of animals and animal products and plants and plant products to address instances where the current regulations require the use of a hard-copy form or specify that a particular document must be submitted in writing. The final rule amends the regulations to provide the…
Further to our previous Sanctions blog posts (click here and here), on 10 June 2016, the Council of the European Union repealed the following restrictive measures in relation to Côte d’Ivoire: Decision 2010/656/CFSP renewing the restrictive measures against Côte d’Ivoire; Regulation (EC) No 174/2005 imposing restrictions on the supply of assistance related to military activities to Côte d’Ivoire; and Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in…
On 15 June 2016, EU institutions agreed on a framework for an EU Regulation designed to ensure that minerals entering the EU have been sourced responsibly and without funding conflict and human rights abuses. This will build upon the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible mineral sourcing (available here). The proposed Regulation will apply to the vast majority of metals and minerals imported to the EU will be covered, although small volume importers will…
The EU Council has extended for a further year the measures imposed by Council Regulation 692/2014 and Council Decision 2014/386/CFSP in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia (see our earlier Sanctions blog post on the previous one year extension here). The implementing legislation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 18 June 2016. The Council took this opportunity to reaffirm its previous statement of 19 March 2015…
On 21 June 2016, the Official Journal published Commission Directive (EU) 2016/970 of 27 May 2016 amending Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of defence-related products. The Directive contains a revised list of defence-related articles and requires all Member States to adopt and publish, by 21 September 2016 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive.