According to President Trump, “Tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump promised to use tariffs as a central part of his foreign policy strategy. His America First Trade Policy memorandum also directs the administration to review various tariff- and tariff-adjacent levers the United States could use to further
Philippe Heeren
EU LNG and Pipeline Gas Import Ban – Timing under EU Sanctions (Article 3ra) vs RePowerEU
As a follow-up to our previous client alerts on the EU’s Russian gas phase-out (available here), we have prepared an infographic summarising how the EU sanctions framework (Regulation 833/2014) interacts with the RePowerEU phase-out Regulation (Regulation 2026/261), including the key contract cut-off and phase-out dates for both LNG and pipeline
EU trade remedies in 2026: What to expect
In today’s global trade landscape, trade defence instruments (TDI), such as anti-dumping and countervailing (anti-subsidy) duties, are more vital than ever. TDI are measures used to protect EU industry from imports originating from non‑EU countries that distort competition by suppressing EU producers’ prices, typically through dumping or because of state subsidies. The European Commission, specifically…
Commission proposes expansion of EU CBAM to downstream goods and addresses potential CBAM abusive practices
On 17 December 2025, the European Commission published an amendment proposal (COM 2025/0419) to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/956), which proposes to expand CBAM to certain downstream goods and strengthen anti-circumvention provisions. The proposal also refines operational rules, including for electricity imports, exemptions, and market-stability safeguards.
New EU deal fast-tracks the permanent phase-out of Russian gas
The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional political agreement to permanently end all imports of Russian natural gas into the EU on an accelerated timetable. The deal brings forward key deadlines for LNG and pipeline gas, tightens limits on contract amendments, enhances anti-circumvention and origin-tracking rules, and strengthens enforcement with significant penalties. Member…
EU introduces safeguard measures on ferro-alloys imports
Yesterday, the European Union adopted safeguard measures (C/2025/7842) to curb imports of manganese- and silicon-based ferro-alloys, key alloying inputs for the European steel industry. The decision follows a surge in imports and forms part of a broader policy response to global overcapacity and shifting trade flows in the steel sector. The measures take…
Regulation to phase out Russian gas imports backed by EU Council
Following the EU’s existing embargo on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, the European Commission has proposed, and the Council has now agreed in principle, a complementary Regulation designed to end the remaining inflows of Russian natural gas into the Union. The measure gives legal effect to the Commission’s May 2025 Roadmap towards ending Russian…
What are the three key points you need to know about the European Commission’s proposal on steel?
On 7 October 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal for a new regulation to introduce rigorous trade measures on steel entering the EU market. The proposal is subject to the ordinary legislative procedure, under which the European Parliament and the Council act as co‑legislators to amend and ultimately adopt the text. We therefore expect…
Navigating international trade: why developing a global customs valuation policy is a must for luxury brands
The distinctive features that set a luxury brand’s products apart aren’t created only on the factory floor. For example, a company’s sketches from Paris, R&D in Milan, and artisanal prototypes perfected in Tokyo all flow into the production line. These upstream inputs (known as assists) must be carefully managed to avoid issues when the final…
Antitrust considerations amid shifting tariffs
With tariffs and trade measures continuing to reshape global markets, companies are navigating how best to respond, often considering price and supply chain adjustments as part of the process. As antitrust enforcers scrutinize competitor conduct, our antitrust and international trade teams have collaborated to launch a two-part podcast series, focusing on the practical impact of…