President Trump slaps 20% tariffs on EU, sparking European backlash On 2 April 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the implementation of new 20% tariffs targeting imports from the European Union from 9 April – as well as higher reciprocal tariffs for other specific nations. Further tariff announcements targeting specific sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, are anticipated in the coming weeks and months. President Trump justified these tariffs as necessary to address trade imbalances and to promote domestic manufacturing. He referred to this initiative as a “Declaration of Economic...

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Effective implementation of this advance for the circular economy now depends on national legislation by Member States On 22 January 2025, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste was published, with the aim of promoting the circular economy and harmonising the regulatory framework. In order to mitigate the high levels of packaging generated in the market in terms of volume and weight, enhance the rates of reuse and collection, and promote recycling, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste...

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The European Investment Bank Group’s advisory services are helping projects get off the ground worldwide and have contributed to mobilising close to €200 billion of investment in 2024, according to the annual EIB Advisory Report released today. Advisory staff work with clients to prepare projects, support strategic planning and market development, and offer training to the public and private sectors. In 2024, the demand for EIB Group advisory services continued to be especially high in Southern and Eastern Europe. Most advisory assignments...

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U.S. M&A Newsletter On March 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an interim final rule that eliminates the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to submit their beneficial ownership information reports (“BOIRs”) to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act’s (“CTA”) implementing regulations. Under the interim final rule, the definition of a “reporting company” now exclusively means companies that were formed under the laws of a foreign country that have...

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EU presents 47 Strategic Projects to secure critical raw materials The European Commission announced on Tuesday (25 March) a landmark initiative to secure the EU’s access to critical raw materials, selecting 47 Strategic Projects under the newly implemented Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the EU’s capacity to extract, process, and recycle resources vital for green technologies, defence, and digital industries. Spanning 13 EU member states—including Germany, France, Spain, and Sweden—the projects will focus...

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