TradeLane

On December 6^th, 2019 the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed the imposition of up to 100 percent ad valorem additional duties on a preliminary list of products from France. These include cheese, cosmetics, handbags, sparkling wines, porcelain, and enamelled households articles, the list can be found here.

In October 2018, France signed law 2018-898 in order to strengthen the fight against tax evasion and customs fraud.  Following this, the Judicial Investigations Department of Finance (SJEF) was created on July 1^st.

Dual-use goods are defined as goods, equipment, technology, and knowledge that may have either civilian or military use or may contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

As part of their global strategy, most countries have regulations in place to control the export of dual-use goods. National authorities issue the lists of products for which they want to control the exports and for which a license is required.

 Most exporters of technology products have learned in the past, either through good corporate governance or a knock on the door by their local export control enforcement authority, that encryption is a sensitive subject (pun intended).

Within the European Union, most items incorporating encryption are classified as dual-use goods (when not Military items) and are subject to Export Control.

Within the EU, French authorities extend control of encrypted items beyond the export process to import as well.  Cryptographic items can move freely within French territory. However, supplying, importing, or exporting encrypted items are regulated activities.