BLOMSTEIN is becoming (even) more international: On 1 October 2025, we are expanding our European presence and will open an office in Brussels. With BLOMSTEIN already being strongly connected across Europe and globally, the new Brussels office marks the natural next step in our international footprint and strengthens our proximity to European institutions. 

The European Union (EU) and the United States (US) have recently announced a new transatlantic trade initiative, labelled the United States-European Union framework on an agreement on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade, that aims inter alia to abolish tariffs on US industrial goods. While the agreement is currently only a political declaration without binding legal force, it represents a significant policy signal. Once implemented, it could reshape competition in the EU market not only for US companies, but also for exporters from third countries such as Brazil, India, Japan, South Africa, or South Korea.

BLOMSTEIN advised Opta Group LP, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity Advisors (Speyside), and a leading supplier of performance materials and solutions in the molten metal, infrastructure, and specialty chemical industries, on FDI and merger control aspects relating  the acquisition of the assets of the majority of the business operations of m-tec Group, a company previously operating in Wesel, Germany.

The NIS 2 Directive (EU) 2022/2555 is intended to raise the level of IT security in Europe significantly. The directive applies not only to federal government authorities, but also to entities deemed essential or important in sectors considered particularly critical. In order to determine whether a company is subject to the regulation, it must first be established whether it operates within one of the affected sectors. Secondly, the company must meet certain thresholds in order to be classified as an essential or important entity. For the entities concerned, stricter requirements will apply to network and information systems, and reporting obligations will be expanded. Management responsibilities will also increase. The directive will affect significantly more companies and sectors than before. As well as broadening the scope within sectors already regulated under the NIS 1 Directive such as energy, transport and healthcare, the NIS 2 Directive now covers additional areas, including digital services, postal and courier services, wastewater and waste management, and 'manufacturers of critical products'.

Tariffs of 30% on EU goods – this scenario could become reality in just a few days. Until then, diplomatic efforts for a transatlantic agreement (15% tariffs on all goods like the Japan deal?) continue. However, companies should not sit idly by and wait for foreign policy developments to unfold since customs law provides them with tools that can be used effectively, especially in uncertain times. These tools, the three pillars of customs compliance, include tariff classification, product origin and customs value. Understanding how these elements interact can help reduce cost risks and improve competitiveness in the US market.

On 18 July 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted its 18th package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus in response to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, including continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and attempts to circumvent existing restrictions. Although initially delayed due to objections by Slovakia, the package was ultimately adopted following adjustments that addressed concerns over energy security and trade exposure.

Few corporate nightmares begin as subtly as an external investigation — a knock on the door, a ring of the bell — and within seconds, everything changes. Unannounced inspections are aimed at probing legal infringements. They are highly disruptive and expose companies to serious legal and reputational risks. While most companies are aware of the risk of dawn raids by competition authorities such as the European Commission (Commission) or the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO), they should also be prepared for inspections by other agencies, such as tax and customs authorities, OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office) or public prosecutors. Each authority operates under its own distinct legal framework and pursues a specific enforcement agenda, ranging from antitrust violations and breaches of customs, tax, or export control laws to criminal offences such as fraud or corruption. What all these investigations have in common: They typically come without a warning and demand an immediate, coordinated and legally sound response. This briefing provides a practical overview of what (not) to do during inspections – offering both general best practices and authority-specific guidelines.

This is the fifth and final briefing in a series on the EU-Mercosur agreement, where BLOMSTEIN addresses key provisions with respect to Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Public Procurement, Competition and Sustainability, and outlines implications and opportunities for businesses.

This edition highlights the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter of the Agreement, which aims to integrate sustainable development into the Parties’ trade and investment relationship.

Hardly any other topic has such a tangible cross-border dimension as space travel. And hardly any other topic has been so fragmentarily regulated to date. This is set to change with the planned EU Space Act, a draft of which was presented by the European Commission on 25 June 2025. The legislative process is following the normal procedure, which means that discussions will now begin in the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

BLOMSTEIN assisted Xerox Holdings Corporation on German foreign direct investment control aspects relating its acquisition of Lexmark International, Inc. The deal valued at USD 1.5 billion was completed on July 1.