COVID-19 Coronavirus: International Trade

The U.S. government has implemented several trade-related measures in response to COVID-19, including a new Federal Emergency Management Agency regulation allowing companies to export personal protective equipment in certain circumstances, a 90-day duty deferral issued by Customs and Border Protection, and extension of the temporary closure of the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico until May 20, 2020. 

Read our guidance: International Trade Roundup: PPE Export Exemptions, Import Duty Postponement and Border Closures (U.S.) – April 22, 2020

On April 10, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), issued a new rule at 44 C.F.R. Part 328 prohibiting exports of certain PPE used in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, otherwise known as the FEMA Rule. The FEMA Rule will remain in place until August 10, 2020. For companies that need to export PPE for critical reasons, we suggest quickly preparing an application before FEMA receives more applications than it can handle.

Read our guidance: U.S. Prohibits Exports of Personal Protective Equipment (U.S.) - April 10, 2020

The European Commission has issued guidelines on how to prevent or moderate investments by non-EU investors in European companies in several key sectors, including healthcare, energy and finance. The EU's new Foreign Direct Investment Regulation (FDI Regulation) takes effect in October and keeps the decision-making function with Member States while providing the European Commission with nothing more than advisory powers.

Read our guidance: COVID-19 and EU FDI: Towards a European CFIUS (Europe) - April 1, 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19 is impacting international trade as global markets deal with uncertain supply and companies and governments work to ensure personal safety while developing contingency plans for handling the virus.

Read our guidance: International Trade Navigation (U.S.) – March 11, 2020