Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

U.S.-EU Joint Statement of the Trade and Technology Council

I. Introduction The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) met outside Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2022.  The meeting was co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, and European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, joined by U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Labor Thea Lee, Jamaica Minister for Information Communication Technology Floyd Green, and Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and...

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Member News

Jaguar Freight | Weekly Roar: Too Little Too late!

In this week’s Roar: the latest on COVID and China, Maersk’s view on the ocean markets, a stumble by blockchain in the supply chain, resolution preventing a US rail strike (and one side is NOT happy), and the lasting impact of the UK port strikes. It’s been a tough week for China, and while there may be some very good news on the horizon, it seems it may be too late to avert the damage done by their zero-COVID policies....

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Chapter News

G7 agrees oil price cap: reducing Russia’s revenues, while keeping global energy markets stable

The international Price Cap Coalition has finalised its work on implementing an oil price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil. EU Member States in the Council have also just approved in parallel its implementation within the EU. The cap has been set at a maximum price of 60 USD per barrel for crude oil and is adjustable in the future in order to respond to market developments. This cap will be implemented by all members of the Price Cap Coalition...

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Chapter News

ECB Speech | The Impact of the European Climate Law

Keynote speech by Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, Lustrum Symposium organised by Dutch Financial Law Association | Amsterdam, 1 December 2022 | "We can’t overstate the importance of European Climate Law and the EU is setting the bar high," says Executive Board member Frank Elderson. "As a central bank and banking supervisor, our policies will duly take into account the objectives of the Climate Law." I am...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | European Commission presents a carbon removal certification scheme  

This week, the European Commission adopted a proposal for the first EU-wide carbon removal certification scheme. With this proposal, the Commission hopes to “boost innovative carbon removal technologies and sustainable carbon farming solutions, and contribute to the EU’s climate, environmental and zero pollution goals”. As already acknowledged by the Commission and as we all know, reaching climate neutrality by mid-century will require us to use both natural ecosystems and industrial methods. Natural carbon removal takes place constantly all around us. Natural...

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Member News

Houthoff | Recent publications on AMLD, crypto-assets and insurers

In this News Update, we discuss the judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU on the AMLD provision on UBOS; DNB's study on the evolution of crypto-assets and the regulatory response; DNB's study on insurers in a changing world; and EIOPA's staff paper comparing recovery and resolution frameworks for banks and insurers. We further highlight some other financial regulatory publications issued since our last News Update. Court of Justice of the EU | Judgment on AMLD provision on accessibility...

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Member News

NautaDutilh | Intellectual Property: A low degree of similarity?

These two figurative trade marks are not confusingly similar, according to the General Court of the EU. In a recent decision, the General Court held that the trade mark consisting of a figurative animal (right) does not cause a likelihood of confusion with respect to Elmar Wolf's earlier figurative trade mark (left), as they are visually only similar to a low degree and are conceptually dissimilar. There was no dispute regarding the relevant public nor with respect to the goods...

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Chapter News

European Green Deal: Putting an end to wasteful packaging, boosting reuse and recycling

Today, the EU Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules on packaging, to tackle this constantly growing source of waste and of consumer frustration. On average, each European generates almost 180 kg of packaging waste per year. Packaging is one of the main users of virgin materials as 40% of plastics and 50% of paper used in the EU is destined for packaging. Without action, the EU would see a further 19% increase in packaging waste by 2030, and for...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight | EU Commission proposes new instrument to limit high gas prices

After months of pressure from EU countries, the European Commission finally presented its eagerly awaited plans for a gas price cap this week in Strasbourg. Specifically, the plan refers to a measure of limiting excessive prices of gas, thereby aiming to protect both EU businesses and households, namely the so-called “market correction mechanism”. Belgium was one of about 12 countries – Italy, Poland and Greece among others – that had demanded the EU introduce an upper limit to ensure that gas prices...

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Member News

Osborne Clarke | UK Immigration Update: November 2022

Since our last update only a few months ago, the UK is on a third prime minister in three months, a fourth chancellor and fourth (albeit one of them twice) home secretary. While it has been hard to keep up with the goings-on in Westminster, this turnaround has, of course, led to changes in immigration policy given, once again, its increased exposure in the political and media discourse of the UK. Although many of the headlines about immigration have focussed...

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