Please be sure to sign up for our webinar on Financial Services – Fit for 2022 on 26 January 2022. This webinar will be held in German only.
The Baker McKenzie International Commercial and Trade team is delighted to invite you to watch our pre-recorded webinar on the latest developments in relation to sanctions against Belarus, as at 10 December 2021. The webinar covers sanctions measures imposed against Belarus by the US, the EU, the UK, Canada and Switzerland, with a particular focus on the most recent measures announced in December 2021, in response to the migration crisis on the Belarus/EU border. The webinar lasts just over 30 minutes, and is intended to give you an overview of the developments, and the key takeaways to ensure compliance by your business
In March 2021, the EU approved new reporting rules in a directive known as DAC7. The directive will require the operators of online platforms for the sale of goods and certain services, to collect, verify and share data on their sellers and their transactions concluded on the online platform. EU member states have until 31 December 2022 to implement DAC7 into national law. Certain platform operators will become a reporting platform and will need to start collecting and verifying data points in compliance with the DAC7 reporting requirements. The collected data points must be reported to the tax authorities of the relevant EU member state annually.
The Swiss Parliament has adopted new provisions in the Swiss Cartel Act regarding the business conduct of companies with relative market power, the freedom of powerful companies to set prices, and geo-blocking practices. The revised Swiss law will enter into force on 1 January 2022.
Belarus-related sanctions restrictions were recently introduced by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine. The objective of newly introduced sanctions is to mount international pressure against the current oppressive regime in Belarus by preventing international companies from doing business in selected economic sectors of this country.
On August 9, 2021, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada significantly escalated sanctions against Belarus in a multilateral effort to put pressure on the current Lukashenko regime. These sanctions were announced on the first anniversary of the fraudulent elections held in Belarus on August 9, 2020 and follow a series of previous measures against Belarus, including most recently the coordinated measures between the UK, US, Canada and the EU in June (see our previous blog post here) and the sectoral sanctions also introduced by the EU in June (see our previous blog post here).
COVID-19 represents one of the greatest ever shocks to our economies and, in consequence, to the business models of financial institutions and the way they do business. While many changes to business processes and operations were already taking place prior to the pandemic, COVID-19 has given many added impetus and urgency. Decision-makers must choose between adapting a wait-and-see approach or implementing more proactive strategies to safeguard and, if possible, grow their businesses.
Welcome to our Virtual Global Trade Conference, a virtual offering for all our clients and friends worldwide. Baker McKenzie’s international trade compliance lawyers from around the world discussed the major developments impacting international trade. The sessions include trade policy, exports, sanctions, customs, China trade developments and trade developments.
On 7 July 2021, the Swiss government amended the list of designated parties in its Ordinance of Measures against Belarus, targeting an additional 78 individuals and 7 entities. These designated parties are subject to asset freezes, travel bans and a prohibition on funds and economic resources being made available to them or parties owned or controlled by them.
On 8 June 2021, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products issued a press release announcing the results of Operation PANGEA XIV. Authorities worldwide have been checking for criminal online sales of medicines in a coordinated operation: The week from 18 to 25 May saw a coordinated worldwide campaign against the illegal online trade in medicines.