On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) filed a temporary final rule (“Rule”) in the Public Inspection issue of the Federal Register to establish export restrictions on certain types of personal protective equipment products (“PPE Products”) used in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rule implemented the order via Presidential Memorandum (“Order”) dated April 3, 2020, in which the President directed the US Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA…
On April 3, 2020, President Trump issued an order via Presidential Memorandum (“Order”) invoking an obscure authority under Section 101 of the Defense Production Act, 50 U.S.C. § 4501 et seq. (“DPA”), to potentially restrict exports from the United States of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) needed in the response to the COVID-19 crisis. This is in the wake of numerous countries around the world implementing export bans on PPE and other medical supplies (see our previous blog…
On 3 April 2020, the European Commission issued its Decision granting relief from customs duty and import VAT exemptions for equipment necessary for combating the COVID-19 outbreak, following its announcement of its intention to do so on 20 March 2020 (please see our previous blog post here). Goods will only be exempt from customs duty and import VAT if they: are imported by or on behalf of State organisations, or by or on behalf of…
In light of the operation of a 21 day national lockdown and the President’s declaration of a state of national disaster, the Department of Trade and Industry introduced new export control measures on Friday, 27 March 2020. These measures came into operation with effect from 27 March 2020 and shall remain in operation until further notice. Export applications to the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) Section 6 of the International Trade Administration Act, 71 of…