On December 23, 2021, and following strong bipartisan support in Congress, President Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA” or “Act”) into law. P.L. 117-78 (2021). The UFLPA builds on previous congressional and executive branch actions aimed at
Global Trade Policy Blog
The Global Trade Policy Blog, published by Steptoe LLP, covers developments in international trade law and policy, including antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, trade remedies, tariff regulations, and investment treaties. It addresses regulatory changes such as the Department of Commerce's rules on particular market situations, updates on U.S. trade actions like Section 301 tariffs, and regional trade agreements including the African Continental Free Trade Area's investment protocol. The blog also explores the intersection of industrial policy and international investment agreements, focusing on performance requirements and their implications for foreign direct investment and trade relations.
Latest from Global Trade Policy Blog - Page 5
Request for Circumvention Inquiry Filed against Solar Cells and Panels from Southeast Asia
On February 8, 2022, Auxin Solar Inc. (“Auxin”) filed a request that the U.S. Department of Commerce (“the Department”) determine whether the antidumping duty and countervailing duty (“AD/CVD”) orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic (“CSPV”) cells and modules, i.e., solar cells…
UK Trade: A Summary of Developments in 2021
In 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) exited the EU’s legal regime to become an independent entity for trade purposes – given this, the year witnessed the operation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which governs the relationship between the…
Comparing Recent Deforestation Measures of the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom
In the last quarter of 2021, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom introduced or adopted measures aimed at eliminating illegal deforestation throughout the world. All three measures recognize the harmful effects of deforestation with regard to…
EU Trade: 2021 Takeaways, 2022 and Beyond – What to Expect
2021 was an eventful year for international trade law and policy in the EU, with developments in several key areas.
The EU strengthens its trade policy toolbox
In the light of the recent ongoing problems with multilateralism and the continuing…
The US International Trade Agenda: A Look Back, A Look Ahead
2022 is shaping up to be a critical year for the Biden Administration regarding U.S. international trade policy. In 2021, the Biden Administration made headway in resolving some of the challenges with United States’ allies that arose during the last…
Revisions to AD/CVD Regulations: Circumvention Inquiries
European Commission Proposes an Anti-Coercion Instrument to Strengthen its Trade Defense Toolbox
On December 8, the European Commission (Commission) published a proposal for a new anti-coercion instrument (ACI) to deter and, if necessary, retaliate against third countries seeking to change the course of EU or EU Member State policy by exerting economic…
Tensions Between Consensus and Voting in WTO Decision-Making – Part II: The Proposed Waiver on TRIPS and COVID-19
On 2 October 2020, India and South Africa submitted to the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (“TRIPS”) of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) a proposed waiver from the implementation, application and enforcement of intellectual property (“IP”) rights…
The European Commission’s Proposed Ban on Products Driving Deforestation and Forest Degradation
By Eva Monard & Byron Maniatis
On 17 November 2021, in the wake of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26), the European Commission (“Commission”) presented its Proposal for a Regulation that aims to curb deforestation and forest degradation driven by European Union (“EU”) consumption and production…