Main headlines from this issue

Israel’s offset division divides into three, applies penalty provisions

Israel’s Ministry of Economy has divided its management agency for offsets, the Industrial Cooperation Authority (ICA), into three departments. The foreign investment division remains separate. The ministry has also revised the obligors’ undertaking document and introduced non-performance penalties.

Romanian decree puts offsets back in the spotlight, retains regulations

Romania has enacted a decree regulating the national defence industry. The decree, in part, focuses on the application of Article 346 TFEU and is structured to bolster the domestic defence industry. However, the law is not yet in force and the prevailing offset regulations will not be replaced.

DKF runs for cover as TV station chases “Club for crooks”

The DKF was forced to move its Bremen conference to a hotel after a German TV station door-stopped delegates and questioned them about corruption in offsets. The interviews became somewhat farcical.....

Turkish public faces medicine shortage as Health Ministry commences offset campaign

Turkey’s Health Ministry has become the country’s first civil procurement agency to take advantage of an amendment to the February 2015 Public Procurement Law. The ministry published offset guidelines for its ‘Health Industry Partnership Programme’ in January 2016. Now it is putting the guidelines into practice.

EU complains of Chinese pressure to release advanced technology in exchange for market access

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in Beijing has published a lengthy report complaining that European business is facing intense pressure to turn over advanced technology in exchange for near-term market access.