On April 22, 2020, the U.S. FDA provided updated instructions to the import community regarding the submission of entry information for personal protective equipment (PPE) and certain other medical devices with the aim of facilitating the import process for products related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Due… Read more
On April 21, 2020, OFAC issued General License (GL) 8F, which authorizes a more limited scope of activities and transactions that Chevron, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and Weatherford may engage in with PdVSA in Venezuela. GL 8F provides that the covered entities may engage in transactions and activities… Read more
Pursuant to Executive Order 13916, on April 19, 2020, the Treasury Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a joint temporary final rule allowing for a 90-day deferment of import duties and fees for U.S. importers facing substantial financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19… Read more
On April 16, 2020, OFAC published a Fact Sheet that provides consolidated guidance on the key exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations that are available for humanitarian-related trade, assistance, and activity under OFAC’s Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions programs. These sanctions programs generally allow for humanitarian-related… Read more
The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and measures to minimize its spread will likely require many small businesses to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Fortunately for those businesses, the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA), which took effect in February 2020, streamlines, simplifies, and aims to… Read more
The unprecedented economic disruptions caused by COVID-19, including government ordered closures of some businesses, have increased unemployment, have had drastic impacts on supply and demand, and have had a significant impact on business relationships. In many instances, companies are legally, economically and/or logistically unable to fulfill contractual obligations. In… Read more
On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to the FFCRA, effective immediately. These regulations clarify and expand upon the FFCRA, and were issued by the WHD within two-weeks of President Trump signing the FFCRA,… Read more
As a result of domestic shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) related to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 7, 2020, FEMA issued a temporary final rule, effective immediately, limiting the types of PPE that can be exported. Due to the scarcity of five specified categories of PPE, including… Read more
In the latest development in the ongoing trade tensions with the EU, on April 6, 2020, the EU issued its “Implementing Regulation EU 2020/502,” introducing additional duties on certain products originating in the United States. This retaliatory measure comes as a response to the U.S.’s recent increase in… Read more
There has not been a lot of guidance published on what a workplace should do if they find out that an employee/visitor was diagnosed. The federal government issued a very early notice reminding employers that health information is private and subject to privacy laws. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control… Read more
Within just a few weeks of its introduction into the United States, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus have had a dramatic impact on every individual and business in the United States, and, indeed, throughout most of the world. It is far too early to… Read more
With much uncertainty and ever-changing information surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, staying up to date can be an insurmountable task. The National Governor’s Association has put together a succinct overview and charting of current information on the status of COVID-19 in the United States and abroad, including such topics as: the… Read more