On August 9, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern. The new Executive Order (EO) is the culmination of more than a year of deliberation by the Biden Administration regarding outbound investment provisions and…
The new EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) has now finally taken effect. Under the FSR the European Commission (EC) will have new powers to intervene against distortions to competition in the EU internal market caused by companies active in the EU that benefit from foreign financial contributions (FFC) and conduct…
After more than a year of deliberations, the U.S. government appears close to implementing an outbound investment review mechanism that would regulate certain U.S.-origin investments in countries of concern, notably China. These efforts are part of a wider effort by the U.S. government to restrict access to certain sectors of…
The EU’s new Joint Communication on a European Economic Security Strategy proposes a methodology for an EU economic security risk assessment and identifies measures to mitigate these risks. The Strategy is noteworthy because it offers a comprehensive view of the EU’s overarching strategy for multiple existing or proposed new EU…
On June 8, 2023, the United States and the United Kingdom announced the Atlantic Declaration for a Twenty-First Century U.S.-UK Economic Partnership (“Declaration”). The Declaration reaffirms the need to adapt and reimagine the unique alliance between the two countries. From critical and emerging technologies to digital transformation, clean energy, and…
The EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) entered into force on January 12, 2023 and will start to apply from July 12, 2023. Under the FSR, the European Commission will have powers to intervene against distortions to competition in the EU internal market caused by companies active in the EU that…
The European Union has adopted the new EU Deforestation Regulation, whereby applicable companies must implement a rigorous due diligence process to ensure that certain products and commodities sold in or out of the EU are not the result of, or have led to, deforestation or forest degradation. The commodities subject…
In a recent enforcement action against GM, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division emphasized that employers subject to export control obligations must still comply with federal laws against discrimination on the basis of immigration status, national origin or citizenship. Guidance accompanying the enforcement action indicates that the DOJ…
In response to recent concerns regarding national security, law enforcement and foreign ownership of telecommunications services, the FCC has released an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) relating to international Section 214 authorizations. (International Section 214 authorizations are issued to telecommunications providers that seek to offer international services originating or…
Takeaways Sanctions operate prospectively and do not affect payment obligations to a non-sanctioned party accruing before sanctions became effective. Payment obligations under standby letters of credit at issue were autonomous and unconnected with the underlying transaction. The fulfilment of an independent obligation owed by a German bank to Irish-incorporated aircraft…