North America Archives

In Europe

US Government Imposes Additional Financial Sanctions on Russia, Targeting Several Russian Banks and Russian Sovereign Debt

March 6, 2022 by Alison Stafford Powell, Alexandre Lamy, Meghan Hamilton and Taylor Parker 6 Mins Read

On February 22, 2022, the US Government issued a number of additional sanctions measures against Russia in response to President Putin’s recognition of the independence of the “so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic in Ukraine (LNR)” and his request to deploy forces to those regions – with President Biden characterizing these developments as “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” The new US sanctions measures build on the comprehensive region-wide sanctions imposed on the two territories of DNR and LNR on February 21, 2022, as reported in our prior blog here.

In Canada

Canada: Canada Announces New Sanctions in Response to Russia’s Recognition of the So-Called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic

March 6, 2022 by Paul D. Burns, Brian Cacic and Jesse Kaminski 1 Min Read

In response to Russia’s recognition of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic on February 21, 2022, Canada has announced the imposition of new sanctions measures.

In Corporate Compliance

Mexico: Amendments to the regulations of the Civil Aviation Law – Drones

March 4, 2022 by José A. Ambrosi Herrera, Luis Miguel De Alva-Morales and Paulina Bojalil Warth 2 Mins Read

The Civil Aviation Law Regulations were amended in response to Mexico’s downgrade to Category 2 by the United States Federal Aviation Agency. These reforms propose measures to improve the safety of Mexican aviation and seek to correct the lack of compliance determined by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency with the safety standards imposed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation of the International Civil Aviation Organization. In addition, the reform incorporated provisions related to the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, better known as drones.

In Internal Investigations

United States: Tales From the Trenches

March 3, 2022 by William Dugan, James (Joe) Ward, Jacob M. Kaplan, Christine Streatfeild, Alexander G. Davis, Sara Victoria Pitt and Erin Shields 2 Mins Read

Late last year, after a month-long trial, a Baker McKenzie team secured a complete defense verdict in favor of our client MedMen and its two co-founders. The trial was the culmination of three years of intense litigation. The result was publicized in Law360, among other outlets.
In this unique three-part webinar series, members of Baker McKenzie’s North America Trial Team will provide insight surrounding this litigation win and the steps taken to achieve it, from inception to defense verdict

In Environment

United States: Hydrogen technology receives substantial support and funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

March 2, 2022 by James O Brien, Stanislav L. Sirot, Matthew I. Martin and Rebecca Matey 6 Mins Read

To support the development of clean hydrogen technology as part of a national energy strategy, the Infrastructure Act includes multiple amendments, modifications, and additions to existing statutory provisions.

In North America

United States: Annual Increase in Civil Monetary Penalties for US Treasury, State, and Commerce Departments

March 1, 2022 by Kerry Contini, Meghan Hamilton and Ryan Orange 4 Mins Read

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the US State Department, and the US Commerce Department have issued rules adjusting maximum civil monetary penalties under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act – Improvements Act of 2015.

In ESG

United States: State Department proposes changes to ITAR Nationality Rule and other substantive clarifications to ITAR

March 1, 2022 by Paul Amberg, Meghan Hamilton and Daniel Andreeff 2 Mins Read

On February 2, 2022, the Department of State published a proposed rule that, most significantly, would amend provisions of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations affecting how the nationality of foreign persons is determined for purposes of deemed exports/reexports.

In Corporate Compliance

United States: Baker McKenzie Video Series: Biden Supply Chain Policy Pharmaceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

March 1, 2022 by Kerry Contini and Maurice Bellan 2 Mins Read

Baker McKenzie is pleased to launch the fifth in their Biden Supply Chain Policy video series focused on the pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients supply chain, which is another of the critical supply chains that has been a particular focus of the Biden Administration. The Biden Administration has been pursuing policies aimed at increasing resilience in this supply chain by addressing shortages and minimizing disruption through a range of measures, including efforts to on-shore and near-shore production to reduce reliance on foreign countries.

In Asia-Pacific

United States/ Myanmar: US Government issues business advisory on heightened supply chain risks associated with doing business in Myanmar

March 1, 2022 by Kerry Contini and Ryan Orange 3 Mins Read

On 26 January 2022, the US Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Labor, Homeland Security and the Office of the US Trade Representative issued a joint advisory that highlights certain supply chain-related risks for companies whose business and supply chains may touch Burma/Myanmar.

In Asia-Pacific

United States: Public comments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

March 1, 2022 by Meredith A. DeMent and Eunkyung Kim Shin 3 Mins Read

On 24 January 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published in the Federal Register a request for public comments on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. US importers and other interested parties should consider submitting comments that will both inform the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force of the challenges companies face vetting their supply chains across industries, as well as provide insight into the effectiveness of various compliance-focused measures.