There have been longstanding tensions in the Xinjiang province of China between the Chinese government and the Uyghurs, a predominately Muslim ethnic group. The UN estimates that there are more than 1 million Uyghurs in detention camps, and there are reports of pervasive surveillance, wide-spread forced-labor, and “re-education” programs. These human rights abuses present significant … Continue Reading
In recent years, offshore wind costs have tumbled, leading to significant potential growth in the industry. However, US offshore wind developers setting up their supply chains need to be prepared to navigate a complicated regulatory scheme involving overlapping federal and state laws, and adequately protect themselves with contracts that reflect the unpredictability of building wind … Continue Reading
As shown in the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Bureau of International Labor Affairs’ International Child Labor & Forced Labor Reports, the use of child labor, forced labor, and child forced labor remains a tragically persistent concern worldwide. To help companies understand these risks and work to eliminate child labor and forced labor, the DOL … Continue Reading
Developments in product liability regimes around the world should be of interest to any company with a global supply chain. In particular, as companies continue to source ever more materials from Asia, it is important to be aware of the product liability legal landscape in those countries. Our colleagues, David Goh and Bindu Janardhanan, have … Continue Reading
A bipartisan bill, introduced in the Senate on May 2, seeks to reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign minerals and develop a national electric vehicle supply chain policy. The American Minerals Security Act (S. 1317), which embraces part of a 2017 executive order by President Trump, would “facilitate the availability, development, and environmentally responsible … Continue Reading
Since taking office in January 2017, President Trump has made use of several provisions of US law – including Section 301, targeting unfair trade practices, and Section 232, targeting threats to national security – to bring trading partners to the negotiating table. Major developments over the last two weeks could impact global supply chains across a wide range … Continue Reading
On May 2, 2019, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released guidance on effective sanctions compliance programs. This guidance is useful for any company with an international supply chain, as both U.S. and foreign companies may be subject to, and at risk for violating, U.S. sanctions law. As a recent example, e.l.f. Cosmetics … Continue Reading
Voluntary recalls are a key tool that the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), and FDA-regulated companies, use to protect public health. Voluntary recalls are also a corporate nightmare, and can be extremely taxing on supply chain relationships. For industries and products where recalls are common – such as food and drugs – supply chain partners … Continue Reading
On April 3, President Trump signed a memorandum calling for the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a report with recommendations to prevent the trafficking and sale of counterfeit goods in the American marketplace. The Department of Homeland Security is to work with the Commerce Department, the attorney general, and other federal agencies to prepare … Continue Reading
According to recent WSJ reporting , immigration issues at the Mexico-US border are disrupting commercial trade, as US Customs and Border Patrol agents who typically handle trade traffic have been redirected to migrant issues. This redistribution of resources has reportedly caused a pile up of truck traffic and delay of inspections for agricultural and automotive components. … Continue Reading
On December 18, 2018, the Senate unanimously passed a bill which would create a council responsible for addressing federal supply chain security. Because the bill was not presented for a vote in the House of Representatives, it will begin the legislative process again in the current Congress. The Senate bill provided for the establishment of the Federal … Continue Reading
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement, went into effect on December 30, 2018 for six countries: Australia; Canada; Japan; Mexico; New Zealand; and Singapore. The CPTPP became effective for Vietnam on January 14, 2019, and four additional countries (Brunei, Chile, Malaysia and Peru) plan to ratify and enact the Agreement. Combined, … Continue Reading
Under California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65), any business with 10 or more employees that manufactures, sells, or distributes any consumer product containing a listed substance in California – directly or indirectly – must label the product with a clear and reasonable warning. As such, understanding and complying with Prop 65, including the new regulations that became effective on August 30, … Continue Reading
Under Brexit, the UK is likely to leave the EU at the end of March 2019 – a development that will impact many global supply chains. Whether the UK will leave pursuant to an orderly arrangement, or whether it will leave without a deal is still unclear, and will likely remain unclear for the next … Continue Reading
In Ratha v. Phatthana Seafood Co. Ltd., Cambodian plaintiffs sued various companies under the Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), alleging that the companies benefitted from human trafficking in the shrimp and seafood industries in Thailand. A California district court found that the claims against certain defendants failed because those companies did not knowingly participate in or benefit from human trafficking; that decision is now on … Continue Reading
2018 has produced a tight labor market for many manufacturers. Particularly in the electronics, aerospace, and trucking/automotive sectors, skilled laborers are becoming increasingly difficult to find. As a consequence, many manufacturers are finding themselves in a position where they are unable to perform contracts that have any degree of complexity without a level of scrap … Continue Reading
Our colleague, Nicola Smith, recently published an article covering “Food Labeling Issues and Trends in Europe: Lessons for US and European Practitioners from Recent Allergen Recalls”, which is now available for download here. Click below to read more about further examples of recalls due to safety or allergen information. The continuing trend of recalls for allergens and … Continue Reading
Squire Patton Boggs attorney Anita Lloyd provided details to The UK in a Changing Europe about the potential effects of Brexit on chemical regulation. Due to the way that REACH works on a whole supply-chain basis, when the UK leaves the EU, there could be significant disruption to cross-border supply chains and the many billions of pounds’ … Continue Reading
It has been a tumultuous year for trade. Nearly all steel and aluminum imported into the US now face additional 25% and 10% tariffs, respectively, after the Trump Administration determined such imports threatened US national security. An additional 25% tariff will be added to a growing list of products from China, following a US investigation … Continue Reading
A Value Added Tax (VAT) was introduced in the UAE on January 1, 2018. Although there do not appear to have been significant impacts on regional supply chains thus far, our colleague, Jeremy Cape, explains why there may be complications coming later this year from the introduction of VAT in the UAE. The article can by accessed here.… Continue Reading
We’re always pleased when someone takes the time to review our work. Recently, we were honored to have Buyers Meeting Point editor Kelly Barner review our book, Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes. … Continue Reading
Much has been written recently about “ethical” and “responsible” supply chain practices, certification and the need to safeguard provenance and quality of supply. This is not least to ensure that businesses maintain high standards and integrity (including in their dealings with their own suppliers), as well as promoting values and practices that are aligned to … Continue Reading
