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US – BIS amends Entity List

By 1 Min Read

On September 26, 2018, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 180910826-8826-01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding fourteen entities to the Entity List. These fourteen entities have been determined by the US Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States and will be listed on the Entity List under the destinations of Belarus, Iran, Russia, and Singapore.

WTO Members raise concerns over US Section 232 investigation on automobiles and automotive parts

By 3 Mins Read

The WTO announced that Members expressed their concerns over possible measures by the United States regarding extra duties on the import of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans, light trucks and automotive parts, at the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) held on 3 and 4 of July. Over 40 members — including the 28 European Union members — took the floor to warn of the “serious disruption” to world markets and the multilateral trading system that may arise as a result of these potential measures, particularly in light of the large proportion of global trade accounted for by these products. The announcement said:

US – Update on (sec. 232) national security implications of steel imports and aluminum imports

By 4 Mins Read

As you may recall, early last year, President Trump issued two presidential memoranda instructing the U.S. Commerce Department to initiate an investigation into the national security implications of steel imports and aluminum imports into the United States.  If these so-called “section 232” (section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended) investigations determine that steel import and/or aluminum imports “threaten to impair the national security[,]” then the President can impose additional customs duties (among other things) on covered products.

On June 16, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce issued his reports to the President in both matters (unclassified versions of the reports are available here).   In each case, the Department of Commerce concluded that the quantities and circumstances surrounding steel and aluminum imports “threaten to impair the national security,” thereby opening the door to the imposition of import restraints.  Specifically, Commerce’s recommendations are as follows:

Australia- Hong Kong FTA negotiations launched

By 2 Mins Read

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) announced that Australia and Hong Kong launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 16 May 2017.  Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and is able to enter into its own trade agreements.  An Australia-Hong Kong FTA (A-HKFTA) would complement Australia’s FTA with China and further integrate the Australian economy with Asia.

US – BIS revises Entity List

By 1 Min Read

On May 26, 2017, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 170303229-7229-01] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding sixteen persons to the Entity List. The sixteen persons who are added to the Entity List have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These sixteen persons will be…

US – BIS removes seven persons from Entity List

By 1 Min Read

On March 29, 2017, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 170103009-7300-02] that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing seven persons under ten entries from the Entity List. This rule removes four persons listed under the destination of Germany, one person listed under the destination of Hong Kong, one person listed under the destination of India, one person listed under the destination of…

WTO members review further proposals to ease global trade in services

By 3 Mins Read

The WTO announced that WTO members discussed five new or enhanced proposals to advance services negotiations at meetings of the Working Party on Domestic Regulation and the Services Council on 14-17 March 2017. Four of these proposals aim to ensure that domestic licensing procedures and technical standards do not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade while one proposal relates to the establishment of a trade facilitation agreement for services. The WTO provided the following summaries: