On January 12, 2021, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, as well as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade, made parallel announcements outlining new measures to combat forced labor and human rights violations. The announcements come in the context of rising global concerns over reports of forced
New Executive Orders Start Clock Ticking for TikTok and WeChat
On August 6, 2020, the President issued two Executive Orders (the EOs) pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act (NEA) prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with the Chinese-owned parent companies of the mobile applications (apps) TikTok and WeChat. The prohibitions begin 45 days after the
New Legislation and Guidance Aimed at Addressing Forced Labor in Xinjiang, China
New Business Guidance to Address Supply Chain Risks and Considerations
The Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security issued guidance on July 1, 2020 titled “Risks and Considerations for Businesses with Supply Chain Exposure to Entities Engaged in Forced Labor and other Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang” (the “advisory”). The advisory broadly
WEBINAR: China in the Crosshairs: An Overview of the U.S. Approach to Mitigating National Security Concerns
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
In the past several years, the U.S. government has issued a series of sweeping Executive Orders, policy announcements, and other regulatory and enforcement actions as part of a multi-pronged approach to protect U.S. national interests against the perceived challenges
How to Navigate Supply Chain Disputes in a Pandemic
COVID-19 has disrupted and will continue disrupting supply chains in many important ways, as suppliers, carriers and buyers navigate the global pandemic. But does the pandemic allow activation of force majeure clauses in your contracts? If a force majeure clause is activated, what are the rights and responsibilities of each party during the pandemic? When
The White House Establishes “Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force” Under Section 741 of USMCA Implementation Act
On May 15, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order establishing the “Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force” required by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) implementing bill. Section 741 of the USMCA Implementation Act requires the Department of Homeland Security the Task Force as the central hub for the U.S. government’s enforcement of the prohibition on imports
WEBINAR – The COVID-19 Pandemic and Imports: How Companies Can Effectively Move Goods In a Changing Environment
Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00 am EDT – 12:00 pm EDT
During these difficult times global businesses must streamline and protect their supply chain operations, manage new sourcing, navigate border issues, keep abreast of rapidly changing regulations, and deal with contract disputes. Importers and other businesses in the supply chain who take key steps now
Profiteering in the U.K. and the Pandemic: Navigating Fluctuating Markets and Erratic Supply Chains
Apr.03.2020
Introduction
We are in extraordinary times.
Businesses are having to adapt, fire-fight and problem-solve like never before. Markets are fluctuating in ways that were totally unforeseeable six months ago and sometimes only days ago. Most companies are now operating in an entirely new world of demand behaviours, supply chain constraints and pricing practices.
This
Trade Secret Protection During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Apr.03.2020
The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique and unprecedented challenges to the ongoing need to protect confidential information and trade secrets. The massive business disruptions that enterprises of all kinds now face include (1) entire workforces forced to work remotely, accessing and using confidential information and trade secrets from home; (2) exigent circumstances created by the
Restructuring Capabilities to Combat the Impact of COVID-19
In these unprecedented times, all businesses will be facing issues they have never encountered before. The disruption caused by the measures imposed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak are significant and wide-reaching, impacting every business and its suppliers, customers, workforce, investors and lenders. At Crowell & Moring, our lawyers across the globe have extensive experience of