POLICIES & REGULATIONS

EU Given Green Light to Impose Tariffs on US Products Worth $4 Billion

27 October 2020

Earlier this month, the World Trade Organisation (“WTO”) allowed the EU to impose retaliatory tariffs worth $4 billion on imports from the United States of America. The WTO authorised these retaliatory tariffs as a countermeasure to the illegal subsidies from the US to the American aircraft maker Boeing. More

hktdc research

EU Framework for Screening of Foreign Direct Investment Now Operational

21 October 2020

On 11 October 2020, the EU framework for screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Union became fully operational. Following the adoption of Regulation 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investments, the European Commission and the Member States have put in place what is considered to be an effective coordination framework. More

hktdc research

New National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies Unveiled

20 October 2020

On 15 October, the Trump administration released a new “National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies” aimed at promoting and protecting the U.S. competitive edge in these fields. This strategy was co-ordinated by the National Security Council and commits the entire U.S. government to work with state and local governments, educational institutions, the private sector, and other allies and partners to promote the American national security innovation base. More

hktdc research

Turkey’s Accession to EU Seen As Very Unlikely; Other Countries’ Status Also Assessed

14 October 2020

On 6 October 2020, the European Commission adopted its 2020 Enlargement Package. This Enlargement Package assesses the implementation of fundamental reforms in those countries wishing to join the EU and sets out recommendations on the next steps for those countries. The Package also includes country-specific reports on the progress of those countries, which are Turkey and six Western Balkan countries. More

hktdc research

Various Mainland Chinese Products Added to Forced/Child Labour List

12 October 2020

Various mainland Chinese products have been added to the most recent list of goods that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs has reason to believe are produced by child labour or forced labour in violation of international standards. More

hktdc research

Export Regulations Revised to Add Emerging Technologies

06 October 2020

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule that effective 5 October adds six recently-developed or developing technologies to the Commerce Control List to implement multi-lateral export controls on these goods, as agreed at the Wassenaar Arrangement’s December 2019 WA plenary meeting. More

hktdc research

New Executive Order Authorises Potential Tariffs or Quotas on Critical Mineral Imports

06 October 2020

President Trump on 30 September issued an executive order declaring a national emergency to deal with the threat posed by the “undue reliance” by the United States on critical minerals, in processed or unprocessed form, from foreign adversaries. Mainland China is the only adversary singled out in the E.O., which could potentially result in a variety of restrictions on Sino-U.S. minerals trade. More

hktdc research

European Commission Triggers Infringement Procedure Against UK for Failure to Withdraw Controversial Bill

05 October 2020

On 1 October 2020, the European Commission officially submitted a letter of formal notice to the UK Government, for, in the Commission’s words, “breaching its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement”. This marks the beginning of a formal infringement procedure against the UK. The UK has one month to respond to the Commission’s letter of formal notice. More

hktdc research

Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act Approved by House

05 October 2020

The House of Representatives approved on 30 September the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act, which would require U.S.-traded companies that do business in the XUAR to review and disclose information about their supply chains, including whether goods are made in or sourced from internment camps or factories implicated in forced labour practices. More

hktdc research

Companies Get Two Additional Months to Exclude XPCC Subsidiaries from Supply Chains

29 September 2020

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has extended from 30 September to 30 November a general licence allowing companies to wind down their supply chains to exclude the majority-owned subsidiaries of mainland China’s Xinjiang Production and Construction Corporation. More

Page of 298