Growing geopolitical tensions, focus on national security, supply chain challenges, and ESG objectives have resulted in more complex government regulation of foreign trade. This can have a significant effect on your business’ foreign sales, supply chains, investment decisions, and regulatory compliance requirements.

Dentons’ trade lawyers in Europe are uniquely equipped to help you identify, understand and navigate the legal aspects of international trade. Based across key European jurisdictions, we combine a comprehensive understanding of applicable rules and regulations, and have experience dealing with national regulatory authorities through our legal and political advisory teams.

You can rely on us to deliver quality advice and strategic guidance covering a broad spectrum of international trade issues, including export controls, sanctions, foreign direct investment review, foreign subsidies review, regulatory disputes, trade remedies and applicable international trade law. We also support you in navigating and resolving issues under international trade law, including the agreements of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) and other plurilateral or bilateral trade agreements. Our three pillars can be summarized as follows:

• Export controls and sanctions law: With extensive experience in sanctions and export controls, we regularly advise clients on their rapidly changing obligations, represent them before government agencies and in courts, and assist them in crafting compliance strategies to maximize access to markets while minimizing risks.
• Foreign direct investment review: Many countries have recently adopted or strengthened mechanisms for screening inward foreign investments to meet national security concerns. A significant share of transactions is subject to FDI screening, while the scope and the extent of the FDI screening highly varies from country to country. Leveraging our unmatched global presence, we can help you assess whether FDI approvals are needed, assist with FDI filings anywhere in the world and coordinate foreign direct investment reviews globally, from structuring your transaction to negotiating with regulatory authorities as required. We also have experience in high-profile FDI litigation cases before national courts.
• International trade law/trade remedies/EU-FSR: We have deep experience with World Trade Organization (WTO), regional, and bilateral trade agreements, including those of the EU. We can advise you on the consistency of domestic legal measures with these agreements and can also represent you in related dispute settlement proceedings. Moreover, we advise you in anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard investigations before the European Commission and other investigating authorities. Finally, we assist you navigating the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation and the new EU tools that apply in the context of public procurement and M&A activities.

Insights

EU Council and Parliament agree to ban products made with forced labour in the EU market

March 25, 2024

EU: On March 5, 2024, the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) and the European Parliament (the “Parliament”) reached a provisional agreement on a regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour from being sold in the European Union (EU) market. The regulation would apply to the import and export of products made with forced labour.

EU adopts 13th package of sanctions against Russia

March 4, 2024

EU: On February 23, 2024, the EU, together with the US and the UK, adopted a 13th sanctions package targeting Russia.

Outcomes of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference

March 4, 2024

Global: The World Trade Organization held its 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from 26 February to 2 March 2024. Ministers representing WTO Members of very different levels of development, and with very different (geo-)political views, met to discuss a plethora of important topics, ranging from food security and e‑commerce to fisheries subsidies and reform of the WTO, as well as domestic regulations of services and investment facilitation.

View all insights for Trade, WTO and Customs in Europe

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons contributes EU chapter in Chambers Sanctions Guide 2024

August 14, 2024

Managing Partner Edward Borovikov, Partners Nicoleta Tuominen and Laurens Engelen, and Trade Policy Advisor Taras Povorozniuk from Dentons’ International Trade team in Brussels have contributed the EU chapter in the latest edition of the Chambers Sanctions Guide 2024.

Dentons contributes Eurasia chapter in the Lexology Panoramic Trade & Customs 2025 guide

July 17, 2024

Brussels - Managing Partner Edward Borovikov, Counsel Igor Danilov, and Trade Policy Advisor Taras Povorozniuk from Dentons’ International Trade team in Brussels have contributed the Eurasia chapter in the Lexology Panoramic Trade & Customs 2025 guide.

Dentons advises Hanseatic Energy Hub with regard to Shipper Agreements for access to major LNG-terminal in Germany

April 9, 2024

Global law firm Dentons has advised Hanseatic Energy Hub in relation to the Shipper Agreements which set the conditions for the access of shippers to the LNG-terminal of Hanseatic in Germany.

View all press releases for Trade, WTO and Customs in Europe