POLICIES & REGULATIONS

On 14 September 2020, an EU-China leaders’ videoconference was held, which covered a wide spectrum of topics ranging from climate change to trade and investment, among others. This leaders’ meeting provided an opportunity for talks at the highest political level with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen together with European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attending on behalf of the EU, and President Xi Jinping on behalf of mainland China. More

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued five new withhold release orders requiring the detention at all U.S. ports of entry of a range of mainland Chinese products. More

The White House Office of Management and Budget sent a memo on 27 August requiring all federal agencies to submit “cross-cutting data” on funding used for mainland China-related programmes. The “Strategic Competition with China Crosscut” reporting requirement will ostensibly be used to inform policymakers of Trump administration efforts to ensure that funding continues to reflect strategic priorities. More

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently issued guidance to help importers avoid running afoul of U.S. forced labour requirements. Imports of goods that may have been made with forced labour are under increasing scrutiny by CBP, which has accelerated its issuance of orders to detain such imports at U.S. borders and has even begun issuing penalties. More