In keeping with tradition, we are pleased to invite you to our annual Global Year-End Review of Import/Export & Trade Compliance Developments Conference. The conference will provide valuable insights on the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing landscape of international trade.
We are holding this conference in a split-hybrid format, with an in-person event in Santa Clara, CA, on 12 November and virtual panels on 19-21 November.
The Government of Canada has established additional avenues to administer and enforce Canadian sanctions laws. Specifically, the government is relying on the existing legislative framework under the Proceeds of Crime, Money Laundering, and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and its administrative agency, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) alongside the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to establish a sanctions civil enforcement regime in the form of mandatory reporting on suspected sanctions evasion for prescribed entities, importers, exporters and those financing import/export transactions.
Please join Baker McKenzie and ICPA for a fireside chat with Lawrence Scheinert, Associate Director for Enforcement, Compliance, and Analysis at the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
During the discussion, Lawrence will outline OFAC’s enforcement program and priorities. He will also share his insights on enforcement actions, multilateral coordination and cooperation with other US regulators such as BIS, FinCEN, and the DOJ, impact of enforcement actions on non-US companies, among other topics.
Please join us on 18 and 19 June 2024 for this informative briefing to gain up-to-date insights that could significantly impact your company’s compliance strategies and operations.
For the second week of our Annual Compliance Conference, we discussed key trade compliance issues impacting our clients globally. Specifically, we discussed the trade policy response of the US, EU and U.K. to ever increasing geopolitical disruption, global strategies for handling sanctions regulators and enforcement, and key global sanctions and export controls developments.
On March 7, 2024, Public Safety Canada updated its Guidance on the application of Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Supply Chains Act). Businesses operating in Canada are encouraged to review the key changes summarized below to confirm that their assessment of reporting obligations continue to align with Public Safety Canada’s Guidance. The deadline for submitting reports under the Supply Chains Act is 31 May 2024.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has recently provided public comments to industry professionals concerning its enforcement plans related to the importation of goods suspected to be mined, manufactured, or produced with forced or child labor.
Canada implemented an import prohibition on goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or in part by forced labor as of 1 July 2020, when Parliament amended the Customs Tariff (tariff item no. 9897.00.00) to reflect Canada’s new obligations under the USMCA (Article 23.6: Forced or Compulsory Labor).
Through the Canadian Labour and Employment Law blog, our lawyers provide legal updates and practical insights to help clients understand, prepare for and respond to the latest domestic and cross-border Labour and Employment issues affecting Canadian and multinational employers.
2023 has proven to be another dynamic year under the Government of Canada’s trade agenda, which showed no signs of slowing over the summer. From May to August 2023, the Government passed into law novel supply chain transparency legislation and introduced amendments and legislative proposals that are impacting, or will impact, compliance with Canadian customs, export controls, and economic sanctions legislation.
Watch the companion videos highlighting our compliance tips in relation to developments in Canadian customs, sanctions, export controls, and forced labor laws.
On 21 September 2023, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations (the “Regulations”) in response to “acts of significant corruption”. These amendments list an additional three individuals under the Schedule of the Regulations and took effect on 20 September 2023. This follows Canada’s appointment of a new ambassador of Canada to Haiti, André François Giroux, on 18 September 2023.
On 14 September 2023, Canada announced further amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations (the “Regulations”) in an effort to impose costs on the Iranian regime for gross and systemic human rights violations. These amendments list an additional six individuals under Schedule 1 of the Regulations and is the 14th set of amending regulations issued by Canada since October 2022. As of the most recent amendments, Canada has sanctioned 176 Iranian individuals and 192 Iranian entities.