Executive Branch Update – June 29, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on June 29, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

US executive branch text over image of White House

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Tuesday Schedule*

4:00 a.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. local) – The President meets with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom on the margins of the G7 | Summit Pavilion, Schloss Elmau, Krün, Germany

4:30 a.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. local) – The President attends and delivers remarks during the final session of the G7 Summit, focused on Multilateral and Digital Order | Yoga Pavilion, Schloss Elmau, Krün, Germany

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – June 27, 2022

By Stacy Swanson and Christina Economides on June 27, 2022 Posted in Europe, International Trade Policy

Transatlantic Trade Update text overlaid on top of images of US, UK and EU flags

With the mid-term elections approaching (November) in the United States (US), the White House and those Members of Congress up for re-election (the full House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate) continue to focus domestic matters of concern for American voters – namely the US economy, high gas prices, and an inflation rate that is the highest in 40 years. The US President continues to focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, citing it as a significant driver of higher gas prices and inflation, while also exploring options for addressing the higher costs facing Americans.

Over the past two weeks, the US continued to discuss European Energy Security with the European Union (EU); some Senators introduced a bill seeking to advance the US-United Kingdom (UK) trade negotiations. Meanwhile, the EU’s proposals on an Emission Trading Systems (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) appear to be moving forward again, after being rejected a few weeks ago. Additionally, the UK announced new free trade talks with Gulf Cooperation Council, along with some new investment initiatives related to Commonwealth countries, including those in Africa.

Looking ahead, Germany is set to host the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit at Schloss Elmau, from 26-28 June; Spain is set to host the 2022 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Madrid, from 28-30 June. The US President is set to attend both Summits; he will deliver taped remarks at the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit, held in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area from 26-29 June, a forum that highlights investments and opportunities in the United States.

In this issue, we cover:

Ukraine and Russia, and transatlantic responses;
A synopsis of the twelfth WTO Ministerial meeting;
Notable US, UK, and EU developments; and
A brief UK-EU trade deal update.

US Executive Branch Update – June 24, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on June 24, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Friday Schedule*

9:30 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief | The White House

US Executive Branch Update – June 14, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on June 14, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

June 14, 2022

8:10 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews

8:30 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route Philadelphia International Airport

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – June 1-10

By Christina Economides and Stacy Swanson on June 13, 2022 Posted in Europe, International Trade Policy

The United Kingdom (UK) celebrated Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign. The United States (US) hosted the Summit of the Americas, unveiling another economic framework initiative, with this one focused on countries in the Western Hemisphere. In the European Union (EU), the European Parliament failed to advance a number of environmental legislative proposals, such as the proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, returning them to committee level for additional work and likely further delaying these measures from enactment.

In this issue, we cover:

Ukraine and Russia, and transatlantic responses;
Other notable US, UK, and EU developments; and
A brief UK-EU trade deal update.

Biden Administration Boosts Domestic Manufacturing – EXIM to Provide Competitive Financing

By Angela Mariana (Manana) Freyre, Ludmilla Kasulke and Kara-Marie Urban on May 2, 2022 Posted in Global Infrastructure, International Trade Policy, US National Security/Supply Chains

Money Pile $100 US dollar bills For the first time, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will make its existing financing programs available to export-oriented domestic manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects. The Make More in America Initiative was unanimously approved by the EXIM Board of Directors in April 2022, and had support from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the American Association of Port Authorities (APPA), and the US LNG Association. US manufacturers and infrastructure project stakeholders seeking competitive financing options now have an additional resource to consider. Continue Reading

The Impact of Russia-Ukraine Crisis on Capitals, Markets and Boardrooms

By Capital Thinking on March 23, 2022 Posted in Events, Financial Services, International Trade Policy, Multimedia Content, SPB Global Public Policy Thought Leadership

Moderated by Stephen Lerner and hosted by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), a multidisciplinary team from our firm engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about the crisis in Ukraine. Topics included geopolitics, the global economy, sanctions and trade compliance, supply chains, the legal response from Moscow, and other business critical issues.

Watch the webinar recording here. Continue Reading

Sustainability Outlook European Union – May 2022

By Ken Huestebeck, Anita Lloyd, Francesca Zuccarello Cimino and Josep Nicolas Bellot on June 14, 2022 Posted in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources

Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you our monthly newsletter, Sustainability Outlook – European Union which looks at key developments in EU sustainability law and policy. This month’s edition includes the following:

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe: May 16 – 30

By Stacy Swanson and Christina Economides on May 31, 2022 Posted in Europe, International Trade Policy

At the end of the month, the European Union (EU) finally reached a deal – after weeks of negotiations – on an oil ban against Russian sourced oil and petroleum products. In mid-May, the United States (US) and EU concluded their second US-EU Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting. Meanwhile, absent a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, the United Kingdom (UK) is moving forward with agreements with US states, inking its first such deal with Indiana.

In this issue, we cover:

Ukraine and Russia, and transatlantic responses;
Other notable UK, US, and EU developments; and
A brief UK-EU trade deal update.

US Executive Branch Update – May 23, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 23, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

1:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT holds a press conference with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan (2:00 PM Local) | Akasaka Palace, Tokyo

Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan During Bilateral Meeting
Fact Sheet: The U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership
Fact Sheet: U.S.- Japan Climate Partnership
Statement: Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement: Strengthening the Free and Open International Order

1:40 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan meet with families of Japanese citizens abducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea several decades ago (2:40 PM Local) | Akasaka Palace, Tokyo

US Executive Branch Update – May 18, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 18, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

10:15 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief

1:15 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and The First Lady depart the White House en route Joint Base Andrews | South Lawn

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe: May 1 – 15, 2022

By Stacy Swanson and Christina Economides on May 18, 2022 Posted in Europe, International Trade Policy

The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) continued to impose sanctions against Russia over the first two weeks of May, while the European Union (EU) continued its debate over another sanctions package. The US Congress also continues to debate a new $40 billion assistance package for Ukraine. The UK introduced legislation that would bring the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand into force later this year. The European Parliament approved its negotiating stance on the proposal for Foreign Subsidies. Meanwhile, the second US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ministerial meeting concluded on 16 May in Paris-Saclay, France (and will be covered in the next report).

US Executive Branch Update – May 13, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 13, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

US executive branch text over image of White House This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

9:30 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief

10:45 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT welcomes His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein to the White House; this visit reinforces the close friendship and enduring partnership between the United States and Jordan Continue Reading

US Executive Branch Update – May 12, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 12, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

US executive branch text over image of White House This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

10:15 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

5:30 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT welcomes the Leaders of ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretary General to the White House and takes a family photo as part of the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit | South Lawn Continue Reading

US Executive Branch Update – May 11, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 11, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

US executive branch text over image of White House This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

10:00 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews

10:20 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route Chicago, Illinois Continue Reading

US Executive Branch Update – May 10, 2022

By Stacy Swanson on May 10, 2022 Posted in COVID-19, US Executive Branch

US executive branch text over image of White House This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

9:30 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief | The White House

11:30 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on his plan to fight inflation and lower costs for working families, and contrast his approach with Congressional Republicans’ ultra-MAGA plan to raise taxes on 75 million American families and threaten to sunset programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid | South Court Auditorium

Fact Sheet: The Biden-⁠Harris Inflation Plan | Lowering Costs and Lowering the Deficit | May 10, 2022

The US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: Is Your Organization in Compliance?

By Sarah Rathke, Ludmilla Kasulke, Jonathan Chibafa and Alexis Chandler on May 9, 2022 Posted in International Trade Policy, US National Security/Supply Chains

On December 23, 2021, President Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) into law.

The Act creates a rebuttable presumption that “any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China” (or by an entity included on a list required by the Act) is prohibited from importation into the US under 19 U.S.C. §1307. This presumption applies unless the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that “the importer of record has complied with specified conditions and, by clear and convincing evidence, that the goods, wares, articles, or merchandise were not produced using forced labor.”

Read full PDF here. Continue Reading