Chapter News

New studies on upgrading the gas market in the context of the European Green Deal

June 05, 2020 | Well-functioning and liquid gas markets are a prerequisite for ensuring affordable energy for consumers, competitiveness of industries, and security of supply. They also play a role in achieving the environmental ambitions of the European Green Deal, which foresees the decarbonisation of the gas sector via a forward-looking design for a competitive decarbonised gas market. To support the reflections on the possible need to enhance the EU regulatory framework for gas markets in the context of the European...

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Chapter News

EU structural financial indicators: end of 2019

June 08, 2020 | • Further decline – by 6.3% on average – in number of bank branches in most EU Member States • Number of bank employees also continued to fall by 0.9% on average • Share of total assets of the five largest banks, at national level, ranged from 28% to 97% The European Central Bank (ECB) has updated its dataset of structural financial indicators for the banking sector in the European Union (EU) for the end of 2019. This annual...

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Member News

NautaDutilh: Lower Chamber of Dutch Parliament approves proposal for a Dutch scheme

May 26, 2020 | The Lower Chamber of the Dutch Parliament voted in favour of the proposed Act on Confirmation of an Extrajudicial Restructuring Plan ("CERP"), commonly referred to as a 'Dutch scheme' or WHOA (after its Dutch name 'Wet Homologatie Onderhands Akkoord'), on Tuesday 26 May. The bill, which was earmarked by the Dutch government as urgent in view of the impact of COVID-19 on many businesses, will now be sent to the Upper Chamber of Parliament for its...

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Member News

CLA: Navigating the Main Street Lending Program

May 11, 2020 | Key Insights: • There are three loan facilities available as part of the Main Street Lending Program. • The three facilities have some similarities, but also some key differences to consider. • Organizations can start preparing their strategy for application to the program now. On April 30, 2020, the Federal Reserve released term sheets and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document as it announced an expanded scope for its Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). In response to more than 2,200...

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Member News

RSM: Bill would loosen restrictions in Paycheck Protection Program, making loan forgiveness easier

May 29, 2020 | In a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act on May 28, loosening some restrictions on borrowers and making it easier to qualify for loan forgiveness. Under the bill, businesses would be given more time to use the loans and greater flexibility to make needed expenditures and still qualify for forgiveness. The bill was approved, 417-1, and now goes to the Senate. Where the program stands Almost 4.5 million loans totaling $511 billion had...

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Member News

GTLaw: Congress Passes the PPP Flexibility Act

June 03, 2020 | On June 3, 2020, Congress passed the PPP Flexibility Act to loosen requirements for loan forgiveness for CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers. The new forgiveness rules will allow borrowers to extend the period for spending the loan proceeds to 24 weeks from the date of disbursement, an increase from the eight-week period originally required. The PPP program will be extended from June 30, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020. The loan application cutoff date, however, remains...

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Chapter News, Trade & TTIP Related

Monthly U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2020

June 04, 2020 | The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $49.4 billion in April, up $7.1 billion from $42.3 billion in March, revised.  Notably, the Commerce Department reported a record 13.7% drop in imports compared to March, and a 20.5% fall in exports—another record—over the same period. To access the full report: Monthly U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, April 2020 Compliments of the US Department of Commerce.

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Brexit News, Chapter News

Statement by Michel Barnier following Round 4 of negotiations for a new partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom

June 05, 2020 | Statement by Michel Barnier "Check against delivery" Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to be with you again, virtually, at the end of this fourth round of negotiations. Since the beginning of these negotiations, our objective has been to move forward – in parallel – on all topics of our future relationship – and there are many given that we are aiming for a very ambitious partnership. To achieve this, as I told you at the end of our last...

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Financing for Development/UN SDG's

UNCTAD, Five UN Regional Commissions Launch Project to Build Transport and Trade Resilience in Wake of COVID-19

June 02, 2020 | • The project will implement UN solutions, standards, guidelines, metrics, tools, and methodologies to help developing countries build transport, trade, and logistics resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. • The project is comprised of three clusters to match standards and best practices in transport and trade facilitation, taking into account new concerns related to cross-border freight transport operations and trade transactions as a result of COVID-19: contactless solutions and good practices; maximizing connectivity; and the...

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Member News

Vulcan Insight: ECB extends recovery bond-buying program

June 05, 2020 | With the EU’s economy slowly reopening after months of hibernation, and the European Commission’s Next Generation EU stimulus package still several months away, the European Central Bank, on Thursday significantly stepped up its €750 billion pandemic bond-buying program. The ECB’s Governing Council’s decision to step up the institution’s Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program (PEPP) by an additional €600 billion comes as eurozone economies begin to reopen, but the European Commission’s proposed Recovery Fund faces an uphill political battle in the...

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