Day: October 13, 2020

On 13 October, an Occasional paper from RUSI identifies factors that render free-trade zones (FTZ) vulnerable to illicit trade and financial crime and proposes measures to detect and prevent it.  Based on 74 interviews, 2 research workshops and an analysis of publicly available literature, this paper identifies key challenges faced by the case study countries, which are also likely to apply to other countries that host FTZ.  It says that, over the past year, progress has been made to improve the image and use of the zones, including by the OECD with its Code of Conduct for Clean Free Trade Zones and the World Free Zones Organisation – an industry group representing over 600 FTZ around the world – with its Safe Zone certification programme. Advances are also said to have been made at the national level. 

https://rusi.org/publication/occasional-papers/improving-governance-and-tackling-crime-free-trade-zones

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

Once again, chiefly for my own benefit (and to encourage me to actually ready the Law Commission consultation document), attached is a set of Powerpoint slides about the recent consultation launched by the Law Commission for England and Wales on proposed or possible changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

On 13 October, the Environmental Investigation Agency published a report saying that, despite Chinese State media having reported 4 months ago that pangolin scales had been removed from traditional medicines – research has found it is still business as usual.

https://eia-international.org/news/new-eia-investigation-exposes-the-chinese-governments-pangolin-trade-deception/

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 13 October, Transparency International published a report which rates the performance of 47 leading global exporters, including 43 countries that are signatories to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, in cracking down on bribery of foreign public officials by companies operating abroad.  The report shows how well – or poorly – countries are following the rules.  The key findings include that –

·         Only 4 countries actively enforce against foreign bribery, which represents 16.5% of global exports, a decrease of more than one third (39%) since 2018;

·         Nearly every country has companies, employees, agents, intermediaries and facilitators involved in foreign bribery or related money laundering;

·         Most countries do not publish national statistics on foreign bribery enforcement;

·         Compensation of victims is rare;

·         International cooperation is increasing, but significant obstacles remain;

·         Significant weaknesses in laws and institutions hamper enforcement in nearly every country. Problems include weak or non-existent whistleblower protection, low sanctions, inadequate training of enforcement officials, insufficient resources and limited independence of enforcement authorities; and

·         There is inaction in China, Hong Kong SAR and India against foreign bribery and related money laundering. Singapore has taken only small steps

https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2020_Report_ExportingCorruption_English.pdf

Articles already released and based on the Report include –

SWITZERLAND IMPROVES ANTI-BRIBERY RECORD

On 13 October, Swissinfo reported that Switzerland is one of the few countries to actively enforce efforts to combat bribery of foreign officials, according to the latest international comparison by Transparency International. But the NGO warns that the Alpine country still lacks strong whistleblower protections and has too many loopholes in its money laundering laws.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/latest-news/switzerland-improves-anti-bribery-record/46093836

LITHUANIA SCORES POORLY IN FIGHTING BUSINESS BRIBERY ABROAD

On 13 October, LRT reported that Lithuania’s law enforcement is not doing its best to investigate corruption of Lithuanian companies operating abroad, according to a report by the NGO Transparency International.

https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1252229/lithuania-scores-poorly-in-fighting-business-bribery-abroad-transparency-international

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

EU Regulation 2020/1463/EU amends the entry for Said Said, listed under EU Regulation 2018/1542/EU re the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. 

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2020.335.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2020:335:TOC

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 1 October, an article from the Red Flag Group says that conducting due diligence on your third parties is an integral part of running a compliance programme, as it helps you uncover risks that might otherwise slip past if third parties simply answered questionnaires or were trusted to self-disclose information.  The article explains the 4 things you should be able to get from a good due diligence report –

• Knowledge about the integrity and compliance risks of a third party;
• Visibility into the business and operational risks of a third party;
• Expert insights to allow you to onboard the right third parties for the right reasons; and
• Information about which steps the third party could take to become an appropriate candidate for your distributor or supplier programme.

https://redflaggroup.com/type/articles/top-benefits-of-a-good-due-diligence-report/

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 1 October, the EU published guidance which states that EU sanctions are not meant to stand in the way nor impede the supply of humanitarian aid.  Any action not explicitly prohibited under EU sanctions is considered permitted, unless otherwise stated by a national competent authority.  Over-compliance should not lead to undermining the provision of humanitarian aid.

Click to access 201009-humanitarian-aid-guidance-note_en.pdf

I had omitted the following link (as it did not seem to generate much interest!), but it seemed time to add it again and say that, if you would like to make a (polite) gesture and help me with my removal and computer costs, I have a page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y