On 2 April 2025, the Swiss Federal Council announced an update to the Swiss dual-use goods control lists. This change represents a noteworthy departure from the international export control regimes that have traditionally consensually updated these lists but that are currently blocked due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. As a result, Switzerland has now issued revised lists in line with key trade partners. Dual-use goods are goods that can be used for both civilian and military…
On 7 April 2025, the Dutch government announced changes to certain general licenses for transfers of dual-use and military items, as follows: These changes will be effective from 8 April 2025. Therefore, operators can no longer rely on these general licenses for transfers that are no longer covered by the respective general licenses because of the above changes. Instead, operators will need to confirm whether another general license is available (requiring a one-off prior registration…
On 19 March 2025, the European Commission (“EC”), in collaboration with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, published the Joint White Paper on the Future of European Defence (the “White Paper”), available here. As outlined in the White Paper, the EU is embarking on an ambitious journey: bolstering its defence capabilities through the “REARM Europe” initiative (as announced by the President of the European Commission here. The REARM Europe initiative is…
Following the previous round of 10% tariffs imposed by the US on all goods originating from China, effective February 4, 2025, the US has imposed additional 10% tariffs on all Chinese goods under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) on March 3, 2025. In response, China announced a new series of retaliatory measures against the US the next day. Below is a summary of these measures: 10-15% retaliatory tariffs on US agricultural products Effective…