The European Union (EU) published its TRIPS waiver proposal for COVID-19 vaccines this week at the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) welcoming the alternative, while seeking procedural clarifications. The US detailed this week how it would distribute 55 million of the 80 million from America’s COVID-19 vaccine … Continue Reading
The Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit concluded in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday, with several transatlantic leaders heading next to Brussels for the NATO Summit, including the President of the United States (US). In Belgium, the US and European Union (EU) leaders met to strengthen the partnership. EU officials also hosted a Summit … Continue Reading
The United Kingdom (UK) hosted the Group of Seven¹ (G7) Leaders’ Summit, which opened on Friday and will conclude on Sunday. The Summit comes after the G7 Finance Ministers reached an agreement in principle on global minimum tax regime last weekend. Officials from the United States (US), including the President, were in the UK this … Continue Reading
The European Union (EU) continues to resist supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines; and unveiled its alternative proposal on Friday. Meanwhile, the United States (US) Government announced how it would start sharing some of its vaccine supply with the world this week. Ahead … Continue Reading
The President of the United States (US) directed the American intelligence community to redouble efforts in ascertaining the origins of COVID-19, a move that comes amid US lawmakers increasingly pressing the Administration to investigate allegations of a possible leak from a laboratory in Wuhan in the People’s Republic of China (“China”). The European Union (EU) … Continue Reading
Amid the tense situation between Israel and Palestinians, the United States (US) Government announced new sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, while waiving sanctions for an involved German company and its tops officials. Bipartisan US lawmakers chastised the Biden Administration over this move, saying the Administration weakened US efforts to counter Russian aggression … Continue Reading
The United States (US) marked a new stage in re-opening its economy this week, allowing vaccinated citizens to remove masks in a number of situations and opening vaccinations up to adolescents as young as 12. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration’s support for negotiating a TRIPS Agreement waiver for COVID-19 related vaccines at the World Trade Organization … Continue Reading
In a surprising announcement last week, the United States (US) reversed course on its position towards the COVID-10 TRIPS Agreement waiver negotiations, saying it would negotiate a waiver at the World Trade Organization (WTO). US Republican lawmakers and the pharmaceutical industry pushed back on the decision, warning it would allow the People’s Republic of China … Continue Reading
Trade officials in the United States (US) focused this week on increasing global access to COVID-19 vaccines, while the European Union (EU) moved forward with legal action against AstraZeneca. With COVID-19 mutants contributing to the significantly increased infections in India, the US imposed travel restrictions on individuals traveling from that country, effective Tuesday, 4 May, … Continue Reading
The United States (US) hosted the Leaders Summit on Climate this week, with transatlantic partners affirming commitments on reducing emissions and growing green, sustainable jobs. The United Kingdom (UK) and the US also focused on issues with respect to Russia, while the European Union (EU) published a legislative package related to sustainable finance and sustainable … Continue Reading
Tensions with Russia resulted in another G7 statement on the situation in and around Ukraine, while the United States (US) moved to address other Russian provocations related to cyber intrusions, election interference and bounties on US troops in Afghanistan. The United Kingdom (UK) also denounced Russia’s malign activities. While US lawmakers welcomed the actions against … Continue Reading
European countries re-examined data this week from the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, amid increased concerns surrounding blood-clotting incidents. The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) are trending toward further reopening, as inoculation levels rise. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) continues to face criticism with respect to its COVID-19 vaccine export control mechanism. Reports this week … Continue Reading
United States (US) officials released two major annual publications this week, one focused on human rights and the other focused on trade barriers for American goods and services. The United Kingdom (UK) submitted a roadmap to the European Union (EU) regarding its border controls in Northern Ireland. The two sides also appear to have reached … Continue Reading
Officials from the United States (US) reached out to European officials this week, discussing mutual concerns and priorities. The European Union (EU) continues struggle with resolving its vaccine distribution challenges, extending its vaccine export restrictions until June. This week, the US and European partners jointly imposed sanctions against officials from the People’s Republic of China … Continue Reading
The United States (US) Government published in the Federal Register its decisions to temporarily suspend US retaliatory duties related to the long-standing large civil aircraft dispute with European countries. If the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) fail to secure a settlement with the United States, the US tariffs will snapback in July. The … Continue Reading
The United States (US) marked one year of COVID-related restrictions on Thursday, with US President Joe Biden noting the increased vaccination pace across the country and suggesting Americans may return to more normalcy by 4 July. The United Kingdom (UK) Government is also moving forward with its phased re-opening plans, with students returning to schools … Continue Reading
The European Union (EU) continues to face COVID-19 vaccine production challenges in the bloc, along with increased COVID-19 infection cases driven by the mutating coronavirus. Whereas the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) have seen declines in COVID-19 cases, which is allowing for some easing of restrictions. Tension between the EU and UK remains … Continue Reading
In the United States (US), President Joe Biden’s US Trade Representative nominee formally began the confirmation process, testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday and moving one-step closer to Senate approval. The United Kingdom (UK) and Australia signed a new agreement this week, establishing a bilateral partnership – a “Space Bridge” – between their … Continue Reading
United States (US) engagement with transatlantic partners came across multiple fronts this week, via the White House, State Department outreach, the NATO Defense Ministerial and Treasury Department outreach. The European Commission released its trade strategy, with the “Open Strategic Autonomy” principle at the center, but also prioritizing strengthening the European Union (EU)-US relationship. Effective this … Continue Reading
This week in the United States (US), Senators focused on the impeachment trial for former US President Donald Trump, while the House of Representatives moved forward with the budget reconciliation process for another COVID relief bill. US President Joe Biden announced new US sanctions on Burma, while his Administration secured contracts for additional doses of … Continue Reading
Recent modifications to regulations and federal government acquisition policies portend big change for contractors across the US, and their suppliers around the world. We anticipate an increasingly complex legal terrain with respect to the Made in America laws which will undoubtedly affect the global supply chain. Are you prepared?… Continue Reading
The European Union’s (EU) COVID-19 vaccine export control mechanism continued to be heavily criticized this past week, including a proposal that would have invoked Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. This led to increased tension between the United Kingdom (UK) and EU, amid continuing post-Brexit border customs concerns with Northern Ireland. In the United … Continue Reading
Countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are increasingly concerned with the spread of the COVID variants, as they work to ramp up vaccination efforts and impose travel restrictions on those countries where these variants are active. The European Union (EU) signaled this week that it might move forward with a proposal that seeks … Continue Reading
A peaceful transition of presidential power occurred in the United States (US) on Wednesday, 20 January, in Washington, D.C., with President Joe Biden now leading the country and calling for unity. Over his first few days, President Biden immediately signed a number of orders, ranging from addressing COVID-19 to climate change and other topics. Prior … Continue Reading
