Europe: International Law

The Communiqué on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports (Communiqué No. 2026/31) (the “Communiqué”), published in Official Gazette No. 33400 of 14 October 2026, provides for anti-dumping duty on imports of sodium gluconate originating in the People’s Republic of China at rates ranging from 22.56% to 32.96% depending on the company.

The annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by Russia triggered the expansion of unilateral sanctions, particularly by the EU and the US. These sanctions, designed to exert political and economic pressure, had significant repercussions for global commerce, extending their effects beyond sanctioning and sanctioned states to third-country nationals. In a globalized economy, no actor remains immune from the disruptions caused by armed conflict and sanctions. This reality raises complex questions for arbitration, especially in third States such as Türkiye, regarding the enforceability of contracts, applicability of foreign mandatory rules, and potential enforcement challenges.

The European Commission has proposed significant reforms to the EU enlargement process, introducing new safeguards, gradual integration mechanisms, and qualified majority voting to facilitate the accession of Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine. These reforms aim to balance the strategic imperative of expansion with concerns about institutional capacity, economic convergence, and decision-making efficiency in an enlarged union.