Webinar: Doing Business in Myanmar in the Midst of New Sanctions Recent political developments in Myanmar have led to new sanctions by the US, UK and EU. As a result concerns around doing business in Myanmar and the challenges of doing business in, or with, Myanmar have increased. To help address these concerns, we would like to invite you to Baker McKenzie’s webinar on Doing Business in Myanmar in the Midst of New Sanctions which…
In the March 13, 2021, Canada Gazette, Global Affairs Canada announced a consultation soliciting the views of Canadians on possible bilateral trade agreement negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK), as well as on the UK’s request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The announcement gave some background: In 2019, the UK was Canada’s third-largest destination for merchandise exports worldwide. Two-way merchandise trade amounted to $29 billion, making it Canada’s fifth-largest…
On March 12, 2021, CBP issued CSMS #46590066 – GUIDANCE: Suspension of EU Duties in Section 301 Action: Enforcement of U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute, reproduced below: The purpose of this message is to provide notice of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) determination to temporarily suspend additional duties on products of the European Union (EU) under the Section 301 Large Civil Aircraft (LCA) Dispute. The suspension is effective…
On March 8, 2021, the Acting US Trade Representative announced the conclusion of negotiations with the European Union on adjustments to the EU’s WTO tariff rate quotas (TRQ) as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. The agreement, after two years of negotiations under WTO procedures, will determine how to split TRQ quantities between the EU-27 and the United Kingdom (UK). The agreement will be signed and implemented after formal approval procedures…
On 12 March 2021, the Official Journal published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442 of 11 March 2021 making the exportation of certain products subject to the production of an export authorisation, which requires an export authorisation to export (or re-export after such goods have been subject to manufacturing operations including filling and packaging within the customs territory of the Union) vaccines against SARS-related coronaviruses (SARS-CoV species) currently falling under CN code 3002 20 10, irrespective of their packaging…
On March 12, 2021, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule [CBP Dec. 21-05] that amends the CBP regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material [Pre-Columbian archaeological material ranging approximately from 1500 B.C. to 1530 A.D. and ecclesiastical ethnological material of the Colonial period ranging approximately from A.D. 1530 to 1830] from Colombia. The restrictions, which were originally imposed by…
On March 11, 2021, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published in the Federal Register a notice [Docket Number USTR–2021–0001; Dispute Number DS597] requesting comments on Hong Kong, China’s request for the establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement) [WTO Document WT/DS597/5]. USTR invites written comments concerning the issues raised in this dispute. All submissions must be in English and sent electronically…
On 11 March 2021, the Official Journal published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/425 of 9 March 2021 suspending commercial policy measures concerning certain products from the United States of America imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1646 following the adjudication of a trade dispute under the Dispute Settlement Understanding of the World Trade Organization, which suspends commercial policy measures adopted in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1646 concerning certain products from the United States following the adjudication of the…
On March 4, 2021, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and the United Kingdom had agreed to a four-month suspension of tariffs related to the ongoing large civilian aircraft dispute. In a joint statement, the US and the UK said they are taking this action “to ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step towards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organization.”…
In the March 10, 2021 Customs Bulletin and Decisions, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published the dates and draft agenda for the 67th session of the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) of the World Customs Organization. Due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the next session of the HSC, the 67th, will be held virtually April 12 – 30, 2021. See the Customs Bulletin and Decisions for the Agenda. [Note: In accordance with…