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
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
BIS adopts 50% rule to cover affiliates of listed entities
On September 29, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim final rule expanding its controls under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to cover foreign entities owned directly or indirectly, individually or in aggregate, 50% or more by one or more persons listed on (1) the Entity List, (2) the Military End-User (MEU) List, or (3) the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) designated under a program listed in 15 C.F.R. § 744.8(a)(1) (collectively, “Listed Persons”). BIS is referring to these new controls as the Affiliates Rule.
Exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to foreign entities captured by the Affiliates Rule will be subject to the most restrictive license requirements, license exception eligibility, and license review policy applicable to their owners. The Affiliates Rule is effective immediately.Continue Reading BIS adopts 50% rule to cover affiliates of listed entities
BIS relaxes export controls on Syria
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Refusing voyage orders: Sanctions risk assessments must be based on evidence, not speculation
Tonzip Maritime Ltd v. 2Rivers Pte Ltd (formerly Coral Energy Pte Ltd) [2025] EWHC 2036 (Comm)
A. Key facts
On 5 November 2021, Tonzip Maritime Ltd (Owners), owner of the vessel CATALAN SEA (the Vessel), entered into a voyage charterparty with 2Rivers Pte Ltd (formerly Coral Energy Pte Ltd) (2Rivers) for the carriage of oil from Primorsk, Russia, to Aliaga, Turkey (the Charterparty).Continue Reading Refusing voyage orders: Sanctions risk assessments must be based on evidence, not speculation
Potential U.S. tariffs on copper imports and the ‘short squeeze’: Legal considerations for physical sale and purchase contracts
- On July 8, 2025, President Trump indicated that the United States would impose 50% tariffs on copper imports. The tariffs are expected to be imposed by end of July or start of August.
- In response to the threat of tariffs, the global copper market has experienced significant change, as traders and end users
Key customs and trade considerations for data centers
As global trade barriers rise and regulatory frameworks grow more complex, data centers must implement robust legal strategies to address customs valuation, origin rules, import/export controls, and maintenance-related trade challenges.
In a recent post, published as part of our Data Centers: Bytes and Rights series, we highlight and examine five key compliance areas that
Singapore targets businesses and individuals violating or circumventing other countries’ export controls on advanced semiconductor and AI technologies
On 4 April 2025, Singapore Customs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a joint advisory on Singapore’s export controls relating to advanced semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies (the Advisory).
The Advisory emphasised that businesses operating in Singapore must act transparently and fully comply with applicable laws and regulations on export controls. Such
U.S. tightens controls on advanced computing chips and global AI diffusion
On January 13, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim final rule to revise U.S. export controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs) and add a new control on artificial intelligence (AI) model weights for certain advanced, closed-weight, dual-use AI models. According to news reports, Biden administration officials have indicated that they
Trump 2.0: Tariffs and China to take center stage
On November 5, 2024, the United States elected former President Donald Trump to become its 47th president. Following Trump’s re-election, and with Republicans gaining control Congress, U.S. trade policy is expected to undergo several significant changes based on Trump’s previous administration and his campaign promises.
In a recent blog post, our trade team outlines