International Trade Law News

Today, December 9th, marks International Anti-Corruption Day. The theme of this year's International Anti-Corruption Day is "Don't let corruption kill development."

In order to promote the United Nations' anti-corruption campaign, the U.N.'s Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has produced the following 60 second video that promotes the power to say no when confronted with bribery.

In addition, Dow Jones today released a State of Anti-Corruption Compliance Survey that found more than half of all companies are delaying or abandoning key business initiatives as executives struggle to both interpret a patch-work of anti-corruption regulations and collect the information they need to confidently assess corruption risk.

Labels: FCPA, United Nations

The United Nations Security Council today passed a resolution condemning North Korea's May 25th nuclear test and imposing additional multilateral sanctions on North Korea.

Security Council resolution 1874 requires U.N. member states to impose a series of additional measures on North Korea, including tougher inspections of cargo suspected of containing banned items related to the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, a tighter arms embargo (with the exception of light weapons) and new financial restrictions.

Resolution 1874 also condemned North Korea's recent nuclear test on grounds that it was conducted in “violation and flagrant disregard” of relevant Council resolutions, particularly 1695 (2006) and 1718 (2006). The resolution also demands that North Korea “not conduct any further nuclear test or any launch using ballistic missile technology.”

Security Council Resolution 1695, issued in July 2006, required U.N. member states to implement measures to prevent the procurement of missiles or missile related-items, materials, goods and technology from North Korea and the transfer of any financial resources in relation to North Korea's missile or WMD programs.

Among other things, Security Council Resolution 1718, issued in October 2006, required U.N. member states to prevent the transfer to North Korea of luxury goods, certain arms and related materiel, and items that could contribute to North Korea’s nuclear, ballistic missile, and other WMD programs. The resolution also called upon member states to prevent transfers to North Korea of technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the WMD programs.

Labels: North Korea, United Nations

Labels: FCPA, United Nations

On Friday, a U.N. Security Council resolution intended to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe's Mugabe regime failed when two of the 15-member body's permanent members – China and the Russian Federation – voted against the measure.

The resolution would have imposed a multilateral arms embargo on Zimbabwe, as well as a travel ban and financial sanctions against President Mugabe and 13 senior government and security officials considered most responsible for the crisis. (The U.S. has imposed an arms embargo on Zimbabwe since April 2002 and financial sanctions since March 2003)

The resolution would have determined, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that the situation in Zimbabwe posed a threat to international peace and security in the region, and would have demanded that the country's government immediately cease attacks against and intimidation of opposition members and supporters, while beginning a "substantive and inclusive political dialogue" between the parties with the aim of arriving at a peaceful solution that "reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people and respects the results of the 29 March elections."

The Russian Federation vetoed the measure only days after supporting the G8 statement at the Japan summit recommending that financial and other sanctions be taken against the Zimbabwe regime.

Labels: United Nations, Zimbabwe