On April 9, 2025, the EU approved new trade countermeasures targeting c.€18 billion of U.S.-origin products in response to 25% tariffs imposed by the Trump II administration on steel and aluminium imports. These new measures apply alongside 2018 and 2020 countermeasures targeting c.€8 billion worth of U.S. goods, which were due to come back into effect on April 15. On April 10, the EU announced a 90-day pause on these countermeasures to facilitate trade negotiations with the U.S.Continue Reading The EU’s Latest Response to Trump II Tariffs
François-Charles Laprévote
The EU’s Possible Response to Trump II Tariffs
On February 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% additional tariff on imports of Canadian- and Mexican-origin goods (since suspended for 30 days) and a 10% additional tariff on imports of Chinese-origin goods. On February 10, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports,[1] and is preparing “a comprehensive plan” to tackle “non-reciprocal trading arrangements”.[2] The EU is a key target of the new measures, with the EU’s 10% tariff on imported cars and ban on U.S. shellfish imports identified as unfair trade barriers. As with Canada and Mexico, any EU tariffs may be driven by other strategic objectives, such as NATO expenditure and a takeover of Greenland.Continue Reading The EU’s Possible Response to Trump II Tariffs
MOFCOM Issues Final Determination on Trade and Investment Barrier Investigation into the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation
By François-Charles Laprévote, Cunzhen Huang, Wanjie Lin, Huanbing Xu & Mengchu Tian on
On January 9, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (“MOFCOM”) released its decision in a trade and investment barrier investigation into the European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation (“FSR”).Continue Reading MOFCOM Issues Final Determination on Trade and Investment Barrier Investigation into the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation
The EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation: 2024 in Review and Predictions for 2025
By François-Charles Laprévote, Wanjie Lin, Agne Vaitkeviciute & Christopher Andersson on
In 2024, the FSR’s first year in operation saw a large number of filings but limited enforcement, with only a handful of Phase 2 reviews, one conditional merger clearance and two ex officio cases. With the FSR now up and running, in 2025, we expect the EC’s focus to be on demonstrating the FSR’s value and delivering practical results by stepping up enforcement, building a corpus of reasoned decisions, and – it is hoped – developing a more streamlined process for non-issue cases.Continue Reading The EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation: 2024 in Review and Predictions for 2025
Global FDI Newsletter: October – December 2024
By Chase D. Kaniecki, Samuel H. Chang, B.J. Altvater, John Messent, François-Charles Laprévote, Vladimir Novak, Isabel Rooms, Aurèle Delors, Mirko von Bieberstein, Francesco Iodice, Romi Lepetska & Beatriz Martos Stevenson on
Posted in FDI, Foreign Investment
Global FDI enforcement continued to evolve rapidly in Q4 2024, as shown by the range of developments summarized in this newsletter.Continue Reading Global FDI Newsletter: October – December 2024
The EU Commission Urges Member States to Review Outbound Investments
On January 15, 2025, the European Commission (the “EC”) published a recommendation (the “Recommendation”)[1] addressed to all EU Member States urging them to review “outbound investments” in certain critical technologies sectors, notably semiconductors, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and quantum technologies.Continue Reading The EU Commission Urges Member States to Review Outbound Investments
EU FDI: State Of The Union (2024)
On October 17, 2024, the European Commission (“Commission“) published its forth annual report on the screening of foreign direct investments (“FDI“) into the Union (the “Report“), following previous editions published in October 2023, September 2022 and November 2021. Notable findings include the follow:Continue Reading EU FDI: State Of The Union (2024)
Definitive Duties Adopted by the EU on Chinese Battery Electric Vehicles to Counteract Subsidies to Apply by October 30
Posted in European Union, International Trade
On October 4, 2024, the European Commission proposal to impose definitive countervailing duties of up to 35.3% on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China was adopted by the Council. The duties are imposed on top of the 10% EU import duty for cars. Continue Reading Definitive Duties Adopted by the EU on Chinese Battery Electric Vehicles to Counteract Subsidies to Apply by October 30
First Merger Commitments Adopted under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation
Posted in European Union, Foreign Subsidies Regulation
On September 24, 2024, the European Commission (EC) conditionally approved, under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), the acquisition of PPF Telecom Group (PPF) by Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC (e&).[1] The EC’s clearance is subject to commitments valid for 10 years, which may be extended by another 5 years. This is the EC’s first Phase II conditional clearance decision under the FSR, which started to apply on July 12, 2023.[2].Continue Reading First Merger Commitments Adopted under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation
The European Commission targets Chinese battery electric vehicles with provisional duties to counteract subsidies
By François-Charles Laprévote, Wanjie Lin & William Kocemba on
On July 4, 2024, the European Commission imposed provisional countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China.Continue Reading The European Commission targets Chinese battery electric vehicles with provisional duties to counteract subsidies