Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic challenges, women are disproportionately fighting unemployment and struggling to survive, as they remain pillars of the family and a foundation of society. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 270,000 women left the workforce last month. During the month of December, the economy saw a decrease … Continue Reading
As US citizens go to the polls, Latin American governments, businesses and citizens should examine how a re-elected President Trump or a newly elected Vice- President Biden may shape Western Hemisphere relations. The results of this election will certainly affect Latin America, as each candidate views the region through fundamentally different lenses. President Trump has … Continue Reading
On Monday, October 5, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented a package of 39 infrastructure projects that he intends to move forward in conjunction with the Mexican private sector. These projects would invest approximately 300 billion pesos in the communications, energy, tourism and water sectors. This announcement represents the reactivation of the previous plan … Continue Reading
On June 22, 2020, Mexico’s independent antitrust regulator (“COFECE”) filed a legal claim (controversia constitucional) with the nation’s Supreme Court arguing that the Ministry of Energy’s (“SENER”) Agreement setting forth the Policy of Reliability, Safety, Continuity, and Quality of the National Electric System (“Policy”), as published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May … Continue Reading
On Wednesday, June 10, the Mexican court specialized in economic competition issued an order granting the definitive suspension of the Ministry of Energy’s (“SENER”) Agreement setting forth the Policy of Reliability, Safety, Continuity, and Quality of the National Electric System (“Policy”) and the independent system operator’s (“CENACE”) preoperative testing restrictions. This means that neither the … Continue Reading
Since our May 20 blog post, the Energy Regulatory Commission (“CRE”) added its name to the list of agencies disturbing Mexico’s legal and regulatory certainty. Additionally, the López Obrador administration has spent time publicly defending recent Ministry of Energy (“SENER”) and independent system operator (“CENACE”) regulatory changes affecting renewable energy projects. On the evening of … Continue Reading
With presidential and congressional elections scheduled to take place on July 5, 2020,[1] the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina Sánchez, announced last Sunday May 17, 2020, a set of measures for a staged reopening of the Dominican economy. This raises the question of what happens if these reopening measures result in drastic spikes … Continue Reading
On April 29, 2020, Mexico’s independent system operator (“CENACE”) notified generators of its decision to indefinitely suspend all legally mandated pre-operation tests for solar and wind projects in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such suspension purportedly seeks to safeguard the national grid against system interruptions clean intermittent energy projects could cause during the pandemic, and … Continue Reading
The financial constraints caused by the coronavirus has affected the world’s economy and its outlook is still unknown and gloomy. Companies from all industries worldwide have been taking all sorts of measures to mitigate losses, preserve cash flow and, ultimately, survive. Just like other companies around the globe, the coronavirus has pushed many struggling Brazilian … Continue Reading
Since the declaration of the state of public calamity on March 20, the Brazilian Government has taken several measures to contain the fast spread of the novel coronavirus and to ease the negative impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the domestic economy. The most anticipated measure is the stimulus aid package, which has yet … Continue Reading
As the Dominican Republic established itself as Latin America’s fastest-growing economy in recent times, it became paramount to design, draft, reach a consensus and pass a public-private partnership law. In that sense, the latest legal framework proposal for the governance of public-private partnerships—which was passed into law by the Dominican Republic’s executive branch on February … Continue Reading
Our Public Policy Team is operating at the epicenter of the evolving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, providing clients with timely updates, guidance and resources to weather the complex uncertainties, overcome challenges, mitigate risks, enhance resilience, maintain business continuity or normalize business operations as quickly as possible. We have just issued the following publications … Continue Reading
The coronavirus pandemic (also known as “COVID-19”) outbreak has challenged humanity to control the spread of the virus and save human lives. While the world is incredulous at the rising death toll, and more than a third of the global population is experiencing social distancing and self-isolation measures for the first time in history, country … Continue Reading
The first quarter of 2020 is not ending on a positive note for most parts of the world, including Latin America. In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus, the region is also facing the consequences of a historic dengue epidemic and feeling the impact of the oil pricing … Continue Reading
On December 2, President Donald Trump announced Section 232 tariff exemptions previously granted to Argentina and Brazil would terminate “effective immediately.” In his December 2 tweet, President Trump criticized the two countries for “presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies, which is not good for [U.S.] farmers.” The U.S. reached agreements with Brazil and … Continue Reading
The international tax policy landscape is in the process of some key changes that are important for Latin American businesses to monitor. In particular, businesses should pay attention to two key developments. First, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is asking for input on a global minimum tax proposal, a key part of … Continue Reading
In September, Washington, DC welcomed a business delegation from the Dominican Republic (DR), as part of the annual Dominican Week (“SemDomUSA2019”). The trip allows for the dynamic Dominican private sector and Washington to exchange ideas toward strengthening economic ties between the United States and the Dominican Republic (DR). Squire Patton Boggs hosted the distinguished delegation … Continue Reading
It is no secret that U.S. correspondent banking relationships are indispensable to global commerce. Indeed, access to the U.S. financial system through correspondent banking is integral to foreign banks and to their customers, who often depend on the U.S. dollar as the anchor currency for their deals. At the same time, U.S. banks are under … Continue Reading
When it comes to trade, President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are not scared to chart an uncommon path. The Trump Administration’s use of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 demonstrates this fact. Section 301 is a tool that grants the president the authority to impose tariffs and/or other trade-related … Continue Reading
On April 15, the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) scheduled the 6th bidding round for the pre-salt under the partnership agreement to be held on November 7. The hearing to discuss pre-notice and drafts of the production sharing agreements will be held on May 6. Companies interested in participating in the bidding must communicate their … Continue Reading
Earlier this month, the Argentine government published a public tender for the construction and operation of a 487 kilometer, high-voltage electricity network, five substations, and ancillary 132 kV infrastructure, ultimately involving five provinces. This project aims to relieve current transmission congestion and increase the capacity of the country’s existing transmission network through a 15 year … Continue Reading
During a recent visit to Washington, DC, Argentina’s Minister of Production and Labor, Miguel Braun, stated that Argentina’s government continues to strengthen its economy by focusing on increasing foreign direct investment to the country. Minister Braun also stated that, while preparing for presidential elections in October 2019, President Mauricio Macri will continue to implement economic … Continue Reading
Brazil has taken another important step towards the battle against corruption. In August 2018, Brazil enacted Decree-Law No. 9,468/18, which provides broader power to the Public Transparency and Anti-Corruption Council, public entity subject to the Secretary of Transparency, Supervision and Control of Brazil. Under the law, the Council’s purpose is to discuss ideas and suggestions … Continue Reading
On Thursday, September 6, 2018, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 4606 – Ensuring Small Scale LNG Certainty and Access Act (the “Bill”) by a vote of 260-146 largely along party lines with 37 Democrats joining 223 Republicans. The Bill amends Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(c)) (the “NGA”) … Continue Reading
