“Commercial Awareness Is Global.”
By: Ainsley Brown The European Union (EU) last week rejected a plan that called for the extension of duties placed on Chinese and Vietnamese footwear. While a bit of a setback for Trade Commissioner, Baroness Ashton, the vote was far from a clear rebuke of her wishes to see the duties extended for a further 15 months. The Anti-dumping Committee
By: Ainsley Brown Jamaica is set to hire global legal giant Baker & MacKenzie (Baker) as its consultant on its new International Financial Centre (IFC). The deal, the details of which are still immerging, is subject to Cabinet approval and would see Baker advising the Jamaican government on the best ways to implement the IFC in this current economic climate.
By: Ainsley Brown Could the longest running trade dispute in World Trade Organization (WTO) history be coming to an end? If newspaper reports are to be believed, and I have no reason to doubt them, then the 16 year old trade war could be very close to ending. At the center of this row is the Banana – yes the
By: Ainsley Brown There is nothing new with European Commission having to balance competing constituents – both market and geographic. The case remains the same with the anti-dumping duties put in place in 2006 to protect EU shoe manufacturers from cheaper Chinese and Vietnamese imports. The EU will decide tomorrow if it will continue or end the duties on the cheaper Chinese and Vietnamese
By: Ainsley Brown The UK taxman is now using YouTube to get its message across. I mean literally the “UK Taxman” – Permanent Secretary for Tax in HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Dave Hartnett. And what is his message. Well you guessed it, pay your taxes or else. Yes I know, that’s just a little bit too simplistic but it
By: Ainsley Brown The Russian Federal Customs Service has dropped its $22.5 billion suit against Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), the world’s largest custodian of assets. Yes, you read that correctly that 22.5 Billion with a B. The suit was brought by the Russian Federal Customs Service in 2007 alleging that BNY was at the centre of illegal money
By Charles Wanguhu The caveat emptor rule dictates that an individual seeking to purchase land should ensure that he is dealing with the rightful owner. Therefore upon inspection of the register kept at the ministry of lands, an individual seeking to ensure the ownership of land would request the registrar for an official confirmation of search, the advantage of the
By: Ainsley Brown Philip Morris – yes that Philip Morris – the tobacco giant is set to sue the Irish government. And, why? The substance of Philip Morris’ claim is that the new Irish law that came into force on July 1 banning the display of cigarettes in stores is anti-competitive. As a public health measure the new law was
By: Ainsley Brown The Australian telecommunications group Telstra is to be broken up in a move to spur competiotion. The telecommunications giant, according to Australia’s Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, would be forced to separate its retail and wholesale arms if it does not do so voluntarily. The government – a 12% part owner – for its part hopes Telstra will
By: Ainsley Brown Is the aid given to Airbus by the governments of Germany, the UK and France in violation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) subsidies agreement? The answer to this question is expected to be known by the parties today when the WTO is expected to hand down its confidential ruling to the parties. Confidential rulings are part