A long-standing dispute over the approach to country of origin determinations under the Trade Agreements Act (“TAA”) may soon be resolved, as the Federal Circuit recently heard oral argument in one of two cases presently examining key aspects of this statute. Among other questions presented, the court may decide the standard for determining whether a product may be considered a U.S.-made end product — a question that could have far reaching implications for product manufacturers…

Global Policy Watch

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 18, 2019

By Sebastian Vos on October 18, 2019

Summary Next week, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather in Strasbourg for plenary sessions. Important debates and votes are scheduled to take place. What won’t take place next week is a vote to confirm the next European Commission. A spokesman of the Parliament indicated that the vote will be delayed after three Commissioners-designate were rejected by the Parliament as no alternative candidates have yet been approved. This means that the new European Commission…

Global Policy Watch

U.S. and U.K. Sign CLOUD Act Agreement

By Trisha Anderson, Alexander Berengaut, Jim Garland, Marty Hansen & Lisa Peets on October 17, 2019

On October 3, 2019, the United States and United Kingdom signed an agreement on cross-border law enforcement demands for data from service providers (“Agreement”). The Agreement is the first bilateral agreement to be entered under the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act. It obligates each Party to remove barriers in their domestic laws so that U.S. and U.K. national security and law enforcement agencies may obtain certain electronic data directly from Communications…

Global Policy Watch

United States and European Union Impose Additional Sanctions in Response to Actions by Turkish Government

By Stephen Rademaker, Peter Flanagan, Corinne Goldstein, David Lorello & Alexandra Francis on October 17, 2019

Introduction On October 14, 2019, President Trump issued an Executive Order Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria. This Order provides authority for the imposition of sanctions (including secondary sanctions) on certain entities and individuals in response to Turkey’s military operations in Syria, which the Order states endanger innocent civilians, destabilize the region, and undermine the campaign to defeat the Islamic State. The Executive Order provides authority…

Global Policy Watch

U.S.-China Trade Truce Leaves Considerable Uncertainty for Global Business

By Christopher Adams on October 15, 2019

President Trump last Friday announced tentative agreement on the first installment of a possible multi-stage deal to end the year and a half trade war between the United States and China. “The deal I just made with China is, by far, the greatest and biggest deal ever made for our Great Patriot Farmers in the history of our Country,” boasted Trump, saying China had pledged to buy $40-50 billion in U.S. agricultural products while also…

Global Policy Watch

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 11, 2019

By Sebastian Vos on October 11, 2019

Summary Next week, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather in Brussels for committee meetings and political group meetings. It will be relatively quiet in camera, but a lot will be happening behind the scenes. Over the past two weeks, MEPs have rejected three candidates for the next European Commission, one from each of the three largest political groups. Just yesterday, MEPs rejected Sylvie Goulard, the French candidate associated with the Renew Europe party…

Global Policy Watch

The Syrian Civil War: It’s Worse Than You Think

By Eric Robinson on October 10, 2019

The Syrian Civil War entered a new phase this week, with the US ending its support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (“SDF”) – a political movement of mixed ethnicities and religions organized around the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party and its paramilitaries – in advance of a large-scale Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria. In a rare moment of bipartisanship, both Democratic and Republican foreign policy leaders decried the decision, acknowledging the US was…

Global Policy Watch

FDA Issues Updated Guidance on the Regulation of Digital Health Technologies

By Elizabeth Guo, Christina Kuhn, Scott Danzis & Wade Ackerman on October 9, 2019

On September 26, 2019, the FDA issued two revised guidance documents addressing its evolving approach to the regulation of digital health technologies. These guidances primarily describe when digital health solutions will or will not be actively regulated by FDA as a medical device. In parallel, FDA also updated four previously final guidance documents to ensure alignment with the new approaches being adopted by the Agency. As background, FDA issued draft guidance documents in December 2017…

Global Policy Watch

Hiring Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Navigating Classification Issues in a Drastically Altered California Legislative Landscape

By Ashley Haden, Carolyn Rashby & Jason Levy on October 8, 2019

Recently enacted California Assembly Bill 5 (“AB-5”) is a game changer for businesses that use independent contractors in California — and a warning shot for employers nationwide. Subject to exemptions for certain occupations and professions, AB-5 imposes a strict “ABC” test that appears to put a thumb on the scale of classifying workers as employees rather than independent contractors. The ABC test was adopted last year by the California Supreme Court in its Dynamex decision…

Global Policy Watch

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 4, 2019

By Sebastian Vos on October 4, 2019

Summary Next week, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will gather in Brussels for committee meetings and mini-Plenary sessions. Several interesting debates and hearings are set to take place. On Monday, the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (“AFCO”) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (“LIBE) will have a hearing with Commissioner-designate Vĕra Jourová. Since 2014, she holds the portfolio of Justice, Consumer Protection and Gender Equality. She has been active as the…

Global Policy Watch

Key Public Policy Developments Around the World

Blog Authors

How Much Is Enough? Federal Circuit Appeal May Decide Level of U.S. Manufacturing Required Under the TAA

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 18, 2019

U.S. and U.K. Sign CLOUD Act Agreement

United States and European Union Impose Additional Sanctions in Response to Actions by Turkish Government

U.S.-China Trade Truce Leaves Considerable Uncertainty for Global Business

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 11, 2019

The Syrian Civil War: It’s Worse Than You Think

FDA Issues Updated Guidance on the Regulation of Digital Health Technologies

Hiring Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Navigating Classification Issues in a Drastically Altered California Legislative Landscape

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – October 4, 2019

Company

Support

New to the Network