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
Please join us on Thursday, March 18 at 1PM EDT for 2021 Outlook: Rail Industry Trends. In partnership with Commtrex and Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting, we have assembled a panel of industry leaders who will provide keen insights into current issues and trends regarding the ever-evolving future of rail, including the … 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 here recaps a recent panel discussion sponsored by CompanyWeek (on which SPB partner Sarah Rathke was a panelist), discussing how American manufacturing policy would benefit US … 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 a Cross-Post from American University Business Law Review. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. The American University Business Law Review recently published an article entitled Why Choose LTAs? An Empirical Study of Ohio Manufacturers’ Contractual Choices Through a Bargaining Lens. In this study Case Western Reserve University Professor Juliet Kostritsky and now-Squire … 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 Law360. Please contact Sarah Rathke with any questions. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed shortcomings in U.S. supply chains requiring immediate action to continue to provide personal protective equipment (“PPE”) during the ongoing crisis. Here, we’ve been published in Law360, discussing federal solutions for our national PPE shortages. Read the full … 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
This is a Cross-post from the Capital Thinking blog . Please contact Stacy Swanson with any questions. On Tuesday, August 11, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced that he has selected Senator Kamala Devi Harris (D-California) as his vice presidential running mate. Since joining the U.S. Congress in 2017, Harris has in some instances … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-post from The Trade Practitioner blog. Please contact Frank Samolis and Ludmilla Kasulke with any questions. Despite the Congressional recess and continued focus on COVID-19 economic relief, Trump officials announced several major trade actions over the last week that could impact global trade and supply chains. Here is a quick round-up of recent developments and … Continue Reading
The announcement from HM Treasury on May 13 2020 to support trade credit insurance has to be very welcome news for many UK businesses and their supply chains. It is a very significant announcement because trade credit insurance plays a vital role in supply chains, oiling, as it does, the wheels of domestic and global … Continue Reading
Businesses are starting to look to the longer term, including in respect of supply chain resilience, risk and its mitigation. There seems little doubt that things will not simply go back to what they were before. New partnerships are forming, and building in supplier and supply chain flexibility will be key to coping with uncertainty. … Continue Reading
Countries around the world continue to enact policies aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 that both recognize the importance of trade to their respective economies, but also seek to address domestic demand for key goods – especially medical supplies – related to the crisis. Similarly, some recent government policies around the world have shifted … Continue Reading
As world leaders and healthcare professionals respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses around the world have been forced to adapt to new restrictions, unpredictable supply chains and a limited workforce. For medical and pharmaceutical products, demand is high and the efficient movement of inputs is critical. For many other industries, dwindling consumer demand is already … 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
This is a Cross-Post from The Trade Practitioner Blog. Please contact Frank Samolis, Rory Murphy, Stacy Swanson and Ludmilla Kasulke with any questions. For additional COVID-19 related legal advice, resources by regions and sectors, and practical support, please visit our Coronavirus COVID-19 resource hub. The coronavirus’ impacts on global shipping are growing every day. While borders around … Continue Reading
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy needs not restating. The saying “desperate times call for desperate measures” fits the current environment well. Governments throughout the world have instituted or are considering unprecedented measures to keep up with the demand for the medical products necessary to combat COVID-19. Several such developments come … Continue Reading
This is a Cross-Post from The Trade Practitioner Blog. Please contact our colleagues in the Washington DC office, Frank Samolis, Ludmilla Kasulke, Stacy Swanson and Rory Murphy, with any questions. The coronavirus outbreak has caused severe, but widely varying disruptions across the US economy, including increased consumer demand of particular goods, reduced production due to … Continue Reading
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
