U.S. companies importing certain products from China may be facing additional supply chain challenges in the near future. On July 14, 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”) was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. It now moves to the House, where it is expected to pass easily—a previous version of the bill passed … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from Consumer Privacy World. Please contact Kristin Bryan with any questions. Well, that took no time at all. On May 19, 2021, the first class action was filed against the owners of the Colonial Pipeline by a putative class of customers, based on alleged elevated fuel prices as a result of the cyberattack. … Continue Reading
Please join us on Tuesday, May 25 at noon EDT for Colonial Pipeline Hack – Understanding cyber-attacks, supply chain breaks and data breach litigation issues. Over the last week, Americans have been riveted by scenes of panic buying at the pump after a ransomware attack shut down the Colonial Pipeline, a critical source of fuel … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from ISM. Please contact Sarah Rathke, and Ludmilla Kasulke with any questions. With increased global supply chain awareness and monitoring, there has been a parallel increase in border actions prohibiting or suspending the importation of goods made with forced or child labor. Accordingly, Squire Patton Boggs’ supply chain team has published an … Continue Reading
Recent developments in Congress and now unprecedented action by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) likely signal increased supply chain enforcement may be coming – and US importers should take notice. As discussed in our previous blog entry, on March 18, 2021, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing titled, “Fighting Forced Labor: Closing Loopholes … Continue Reading
As almost every industry has discovered, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted weaknesses in American supply chains. The sudden and severe lock-down on international shipping and materials and components shortages have made it clear how dependent United States consumers are on other countries. A number of U.S. Senators therefore have introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to directly … Continue Reading
Continuing the trend toward increased oversight of forced labor in supply chains (see our post from last week on groundbreaking German legislation in this space), on March 18, 2021, the US Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on “fighting forced labor.” Specifically, the hearing will focus on “[c]losing the loopholes and improving customs enforcement … Continue Reading
Earlier this month, the German government resolved to approve a new supply chain law that would impose unprecedented obligations on German companies to control labor and control practices – not only of their own operations, but within their supplier as well. Determining that “voluntary compliance” supply chain laws, which require companies to monitor and report … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from Legal Era. Please contact Sarah Rathke or Bindu Janardhanan with any questions. SPB Hong Kong partner Bindu Janardhanan recently published an article in Legal Era magazine discussing the development of product liability law in Asia and the driving force in the increasing awareness of consumer rights propelled by economic development within Asia. To … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from CompanyWeek. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. It is a new age, and the US faces challenges when competing against the global manufacturing leader, China. The article recaps a recent panel discussion sponsored by CompanyWeek (on which SPB partner Sarah Rathke was a panelist), discussing how American manufacturing policy would benefit … Continue Reading
Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. SPB supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke was interviewed by Ben Ames of DC Velocity regarding the potential international trade disruptions with China in 2021. Sarah discusses the potential challenges facing the Chinese international trade supply chain and the difficulties in predicting Chinese policies this year. You can read the full … Continue Reading
Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. Through a recent executive order, the Biden administration has the authority to use the Defense Production Act (DPA). Recently, SPB supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke was interviewed by the Supply Chain Dive concerning use of the DPA. The Supply Chain Dive article here explains how the DPA order will require … Continue Reading
The year 2021 will likely be a year of geopolitical reckoning between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, which will inevitably have direct and indirect flow-down effects into US supply chains. While the Biden Administration has not yet unveiled many specifics as to what its approach to China will be, on January 12, … Continue Reading
This is Cross-Post from Employment Law Worldview. Please contact Daniel Pasternak with any questions. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) updated COVID-19 guidance indicates that employers can implement and enforce mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for their employees. The article here breaks down the key takeaways from EEOC’s updated COVID-19 guidance.… Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from Consumer Privacy World. Please contact Kristin Bryan with any questions. Last week the US Homeland Security Department issued a warning regarding supply chain cyberattacks aimed at the cold chain delivery and storage of companies and government organizations responsible for the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines worldwide. For further information on the … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from the Capital Thinking blog. Please contact Ludmilla Kasulke with any questions. President-Elect Biden has pledged to strengthen Buy American orders and to implement a “Made in America” tax credit and other federal incentives to “Build Back Better” economic plan the will impact international supply chains. Read the full article here … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from Employment Law Worldview blog. Please contact Melissa Legault with any questions. On December 2, 2020 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updated COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. The updated CDC guidelines include 10-day and 7-day quarantined alternatives to the prior 14-day quarantine recommendation, which the CDC has determined … Continue Reading
At the time of this writing, two companies, Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, Inc., have announced promising early results from Phase 3 of their COVID-19 vaccine trials. Additional promising results are hoped for from Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca soon, and perhaps from others later. This is good news. Developing a vaccine is one thing, however. … Continue Reading
This is a cross post from Law360. Please contact Sarah Rathke, Kristin Bryan or John Wyand with any questions. In response to American health care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is seeing a rapid acceleration in mobile health care, however, this new age form of health care does present some risk and legal … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-post from SDCE Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. This podcast interview led by SDCE Associate Editor Brielle Jaekel discusses surprising findings regarding buyer-supplier negotiations with Scotwork CEO Brian Buck and supply chain negotiation best practices with supply chain lawyer Sarah Rathke. You can listen to … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-post from The Trade Practitioner blog. On September 1, the Office of the US Trade Representative, working with the Departments of Commerce (DOC) and of Agriculture (USDA), announced a number of actions aimed at supporting domestic producers of seasonal/perishable produce. Their plans – which include new trade actions targeting certain fruit and … Continue Reading
As countries, economies, and businesses adjust to life in the COVID-19 era, many governments have started to ask questions about the wisdom and longer term implications of allowing key components of socially or economically critical products like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and defense products to be sourced beyond domestic borders. One key area of concern – … Continue Reading
The outbreak of COVID-19 could be the most significant event to impact the US economy in generations with the potential for ripple effects in the automotive market and supply chain for years to come. Accordingly, OEMs and suppliers from all tiers may need to rethink the supply chain model, from sourcing of raw materials to … Continue Reading
As we all wait eagerly to see what will be included in Congress’ most recent economic stimulus plan, companies may be interested to see what stimulus packages are already being offered. A list is here. If you hear of others, let us know!… Continue Reading
