On 21 June 2023, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to “gross and systematic human rights violations.” These amendments list an additional four individuals and took effect on 21 June 2023.
On 19 June 2023, Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations in response to Iran’s “gross and systematic violations of human rights in different branches of Iran’s Revolutionary Courts.” These amendments list an additional seven individuals under Schedule 1 and entered into force on 19 June 2023.
On 13 June 2023, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations in response to “acts of significant corruption.” These amendments list an additional two individuals under the Schedule of the Regulations and took effect on 13 June 2023.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Canada Announces Additional Sanctions in Response to Theft of Ukrainian Cultural Objects and Seizes Russian Cargo Aircraft on 16 June 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
Consumers and investors alike are increasingly shifting their focus towards both “green” products and investments in sustainable businesses and those with aspirational environmental and climate goals. Since environmental and sustainability claims have become ever more powerful marketing tools, they are also increasingly vulnerable to complaints of “greenwashing” — the practice of overstating the environmental characteristics or benefits of a company or a product.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Canada Announces Additional Sanctions in Relation to Russia and Updates Guidance on Sanctions Evasion on 24 May 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
The Government of Canada recently introduced Part 1 of the budget implementation bill, which completed its second reading before the House of Commons and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Finance. The Bill proposes novel amendments, including “deemed ownership” provisions to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and it demonstrates that the Government intends to rely on existing anti-money laundering enforcement regimes to eliminate sanctions circumvention and enforce sanctions compliance. Additionally, the Bill seeks to expand the Government’s authority to prohibit activities with specific persons under the SEMA.
This article provides an overview of the global rise in human and labor rights legislation linked to trade measures. In particular, it examines: Canada’s efforts to enforce the existing import prohibitions on goods mined or manufactured with forced labor under the Customs Tariff; compliance under the recently passed Bill S-211, Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff which comes into force on 1 January 2024; and the need for Canadian businesses to develop compliance measures on the import prohibition under the Customs Tariff, the new reporting requirements under Bill S-211, and the importance of continuing enterprise and supply chain scrutiny.
Baker McKenzie’s Sanctions Blog published the alert titled Sanctions Enforcement Around the G7, The Canadian Perspective on 10 April 2023. Read the article via the link here. Please also visit our Sanctions Blog for the most recent updates.
In June 2023, amendments to the Competition Act take effect that will allow Canadian employees to sue their employers for conspiratorial conduct. In this video, baker McKenzie Litigation and Competition lawyers reflect on the new buy-side conspiracy causes of action through the lens of a recent Federal Court of Appeal case, consider the expected implications of the new amendments on employers’ class action exposure, and discuss what employers can do to mitigate these new risks.