International Legal News - 20 October 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- Oct 18
- 3 min read
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 13 October to 17 October 2025.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
17 October 2025
OECD investigation links arms manufacturer to human right violation
A four-year investigation for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has reportedly linked the weapons manufacturer Saab to a human rights violation, after a missile which it manufactured was found in an indigenous heritage area.
The 1.3 metre RBS-70 anti-aircraft missile was discovered in January 2021 near Lake Hart in remote South Australia, and reportedly in close proximity to several culturally significant artefacts for the Kokatha people.
Two brothers who discovered the missile reported their discovery, but after there was failure in its retrieval, they lodged a complaint with the OECD.
For more on this story, see here.
16 October 2025
Blog Corner: “How Not to Trade with Occupying Powers: Western Sahara and the Amendment to the EU-Moroccan Association Agreements”
A post by Andrea Maria Pelliconi and Sebastian von Massow for EJIL: Talk, will be of interest to scholars and practioners interested in the intersection between EU external trade relations and the international principle of self-determination.
They examine the status of the EU-Mediterranean Agreement which was amended on 3 October 2025. That amendment provisionally grants tariff preferences over products which originate in the occupied Western Sahara, a non-self-governing territory that is home to the Saharawi people but which been under occupation by Morocco since 1975.
To read this article, see here.
15 October 2025
Chinese state entity settles with LNG producer
A state-owned Chinese entity has been revealed as the party that settled an ICC claim against Venture Global over diverted LNG deliveries. It has been reported this has taken place after two similar arbitrations against the US exporter reached opposite outcomes.
For more on this story, see here.
14 October 2025
EU Lawmakers amend sustainability and due diligence reporting requirements
The EU committee of legal affairs has reportedly voted to amend its position on the EU’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD) that would introduce a number of reporting requirements in respect to sustainability and due diligence.
Amendment will mean the new requirements will only apply to companies with an annual turnover of at least €1.5 billion and at least 5000 employees.
Whether this change represents attempts to dilute the overall effect of the new law or set in motion new international standards for business and human rights, remains to be seen.
For more on this story, see here.
13 October 2025
EU-Ukraine trade: Council of Europe agrees reduction or elimination of customs duties on agri-food products
The Council of Europe has announced that it has adopted a position in respect to the EU-Ukraine Association Committee.
In a move that signals greater economic harmonisation between the bloc and the embattled eastern republic, a reduction or elimination in customs duties for agricultural products will likely lead to the creation of longer-term reciprocal trade.
The association agreement between the EU and Ukraine was signed in 2014 and entered into force on 1 September 2017.
For more on this story, see here.