On 27 November 2021, the UAE published the long awaited UAE Personal Data Protection Law, Federal Law 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection. The development signifies a landmark in the evolution of the UAE’s regulatory framework and lays the foundation for the modernization of the economy and digitization of the country’s growth sectors.
As an essential component of South Africa’s energy transition, the production, transport, storage and use of green hydrogen, has been the subject of numerous policy updates and public and private sector commitments in the country, especially in the last year. The timeline of developments is not expected to slow down as South Africa zeroes in on solutions to its energy crisis that enables it to also address climate change and deliver on its decarbonization targets.
On November 12, 2021, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned four entities and two individuals pursuant to Executive Order 14046, “Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons With Respect to the Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia”. These designations are in response to the growing humanitarian and human rights crisis and expanding military conflict in Ethiopia.
In November, the United States announced that Ethiopia, Guinea and Mali would be terminated from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (“AGOA”) trade preference program, unless they took urgent action to meet eligibility criteria by 1 January 2022. AGOA eligibility requirements include, among other things, that countries must follow the rule of law and implement economic policies that reduce poverty and combat corruption and bribery. Countries must also protect internationally recognized human and worker rights, and must not engage in activities that undermine national security interests.
Draft guidelines to the COMESA Competition Regulations, 2004 were published for public comment in October 2021. The guidelines are intended to provide clarity, transparency and certainty on the policies and procedures of the COMESA Competition Commission. Based on international best practice, they address the determination of fines and administrative penalties, as well as settlement and hearing procedures.
On November 1, 2021, the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued a final rule amending entries for Ethiopia and Eritrea in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. These changes supplement the sanctions imposed on both countries under Executive Order 14046, “Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons With Respect to the Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia,” which was signed by President Biden in September 2021.
On September 17, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14046, “Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons With Respect to the Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia” aimed at addressing the widespread humanitarian conflict in northern Ethiopia. Both the White House and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also released statements calling for ceasefire negotiations to begin to find a political solution to the ongoing conflict in the region and a sanctions scheme to target individuals and groups responsible for violence, unrest, human rights abuses and the obstruction of humanitarian efforts.
All but four of the OECD G20 Inclusive Framework members, including South Africa, have signed an agreement that will reform the world’s tax system. Two African countries – Kenya and Nigeria – have not yet signed the agreement. The new two-pillar system will set out a reallocation of taxing rights as well as a global minimum tax rate for certain organizations. It is expected that these changes will address global tax revenue imbalances, which is expected to benefit African countries.
While the financial impact of COVID 19 has affected almost every sector across the world, the hospitality sector has been one of hardest hit. This sector has borne the brunt of reduced travel together with event and booking cancellations. We look at the key employment related considerations faced as a result.
Welcome to this issue of the Global DR Legal Update, our quarterly newsletter which aims to bring together the most important global developments in litigation and arbitration. If you have any questions, or if we can assist further, please get in touch with Ben Roe or Steve Adams.