POLICIES & REGULATIONS

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies on 10 February approved legislation to establish a new legal framework for foreign exchange transactions in Brazil. The National Confederation of Industry believes this legislation would “contribute to the expansion and reduction of bureaucracy in foreign trade operations in Brazil.” The legislation has been forwarded to the Senate for its consideration. More

Downstream products made outside mainland China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region that incorporate cotton and tomato products produced in the XUAR may be detained upon entry into the U.S. under a withhold release order issued against the latter goods, according to information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More

The UK Government announced last year that up to ten so-called Freeports will be opened across the UK, in an attempt to create thousands of jobs, attracting new businesses and investment. It was reported on 4 February 2021 that at least 30 ports and airports across the UK were considering making bids for the ten Freeports. The first Freeports are said to be on track to open for business by the end of 2021. More

On 21 January 2021, the European Parliament approved one resolution urging the Council of the EU to introduce sanctions against Russian individuals and a second resolution urging the Council of the EU to consider imposing sanctions against individuals in Hong Kong under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR). More