As legal professionals working in global corporations and law firms, it’s crucial to stay updated on significant legislative developments. One such key development is the recent ratification of the U.K’s latest Financial Services and Markets Act (FSM Act) on June 29, 2023. As described by Shearman & Sterling LLP, this act is the result of…
Recent audit findings on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) have been a cause for concern within the trade community. The audit, conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) in March 2022, revealed significant weaknesses in the Centers’ operational processes and internal…
A hot topic in international trade for August 2023 pertains to the requirements for bottling/packing Tequilas in the United States. This is an update considering the recent record of Mexico’s Tequila exports to the United States. The U.S being the leading consumer of Mexico’s Tequila, in 2022 the U.S. imported more than 338 million liters…
In a significant update from Russia, President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a legislation that brings about changes to the shareholding structures of economically vital Russian organizations. This new law is framed in such a way that parent companies from nations categorized as “unfriendly states” are to be excluded from the shareholding.According to a…
On July 28, 2023, an unexpected shift occurred in the mattress industry. A coalition of United States domestic producers and wholesalers of mattresses officially filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Within these petitions, the coalition was seeking the imposition of antidumping (AD) duties on imports…
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) concluded its 56th session in Vienna, Austria on July 25, 2023. This influential conference brought together legal scholars and practitioners from around the globe to discuss and shape the future of international trade law. According to the information provided by legal updates publisher JD Supra, numerous…
In an insightful discussion, Troutman Pepper White Collar and Legal Partner Cal Stein recently touched upon the role of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) with regards to enforcing and collecting foreign arbitration awards. This conversation unfolds amidst a backdrop of increasing relevance and complexity in cross-border business and legal matters, warranting an…
On July 26, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Justice released an essential joint compliance notice, referred to as the “Compliance Notice.” This document updates and summarizes each agency’s stance on businesses’ voluntary self-disclosure of potential violations concerning sanctions, export controls, and other national security laws. According…
The case of FS.COM INC. v. International Trade Commission, with Corning Optical Communications LLC intervening, continues to reshape our understanding of patent validity in the context of import regulations. In case proceedings dated April 20, 2023, the overarching discourse returns to two vital aspects of patent law: enablement and claim construction. A full explanation of…
As many legal professionals closely monitor ongoing international trade disputes, one pressing issue continues to dominate legal and political headlines. The European Union (EU) and the United States (US) remain at odds on policy approaches regarding the steel and aluminum industry due to disagreements anchored in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concerns, more particularly the…
As reported by JD Supra, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on August 1, 2023, the addition of three entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This register is a consolidated listing comprising four separate lists required under the UFLPA’s section 2(d)(2)(B). The entities added to this list will face…
The evolution and complexity of the relationship between the United States and China, and the web of relations among China, the US, and US allies or partners, have always been managed, to some degree, through the use of export controls. Recent developments demonstrate that such controls remain instrumental in addressing various aspects of this relationship….
In its latest strategic move, cloud-based trademark docketing software company Alt Legal has stepped up its game with its fourth acquisition. The company has acquired customers and the docketing business of its competitor, TM Cloud. This acquisition enables Alt Legal to expand its customer base across the United States and globally, including regions such as…