Clifford Chance

This briefing paper provides an overview of the European Union’s role in trade policy on behalf of its Member States, the process by which it undertakes different aspects of that policy, and the roles of the various EU institutions.

The financial impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on businesses which operate, or are reliant upon suppliers or customers, in affected areas has been widely reported. Whilst certain sectors including airlines, manufacturing, retail and tourism appear to be worst affected, others will undoubtedly be impacted if the Coronavirus cannot be contained in the timeframe originally forecasted.

The increased regulatory focus on operational resilience stems from a combination of factors, including: a shift in the way customers access financial services; the use of new technologies; the significant negative impact of IT failures/incidents; and the introduction of new types of risk.

This briefing provides an overview of the Appellate Body crisis by setting out the legal framework that governs the appeals process and discussing some of its perceived shortcomings. We also consider potential reforms and alternatives to the current system, including recent decisions by the EU, Canada and Norway to establish interim arbitration mechanisms.