#BlueStarBrief September 2022: Foreign Subsidies Regulation, Chilean Constitutional Developments, US Midterms, and more...

Blue Star Strategies joins others from around the world in mourning the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. As the UK's longest-reigning monarch, she served as a steady presence in the international community, and will be greatly missed.

We also congratulate King Charles III on his accession to the throne. Blue Star Strategies was privileged to work with the then-Prince for many years through the Prince of Wales' Charities, and we wish the best for the continuation of the charities' good work during his time as King.

It has now been more than 6 months since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Our support remains with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and sovereignty. Please continue to use the sources outlined in our March edition to stay up to date and support Ukrainian defenders.

Here's what we have for you in this month's #BlueStarBrief:

Senior Managing Director Gabriel Sánchez Zinny Testifies In Front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

The EU's New Foreign Subsidies Regulation - What It Is and What It Means

The Implications of Ukraine's Grain Deal

An Update on the US Midterms

An Update on Chile's Constitutional Process

By Stephany Vargas, Ben Hoffschneider

In late spring 2021, the European Commission released a proposal for a new Regulation on Foreign Subsidies Distorting the Internal Market. At the time, Blue Star had examined the ways in which the proposed piece of legislation would impact companies looking to invest and operate in Europe. A little over a year later, the text has made its way through the EU’s legislative process and is now expected to come into force around the middle of 2023. The EU's new regulation shows a very different approach from the US, who is choosing to combat market disruption by directing public investment towards strategic industries.

Read a full analysis of the EU's proposal and its implications from our European team here, and a quick update on how the US is approaching the problem differently here.

By Aretera, Guest Firm Contributor

On top of the enduring, unthinkable human tragedy, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also triggered a series of economic and humanitarian crises felt across the globe, not least that concerning global food supplies. As part of their efforts to crush Ukrainian independence and exert pressure on Kyiv’s international supporters, Russia has blocked and mined Ukraine’s pivotal Black Sea, disrupting grain exports crucial to ensuring global food security. Ukraine is one of the most important suppliers of various agricultural and food items necessary to ensure global food supplies, particularly in African and Middle Eastern countries.

Indirectly signed between Ukraine and Russia with Turkish and UN mediation on 22 July, the "Grain Deal" has been hailed as a remarkable achievement by the UN as it looks to ease key supply risks on the global food market and avoid a major humanitarian catastrophe. However, with no end to the war in sight, it is yet to be seen whether Russia will honor the deal’s provisions and make it a reliable instrument for global food security.

Aretera takes a deeper look at the deal and what it means for the international community here.

By Blue Star Strategies' DC Team

A few months ago, the media - and not only the U.S. media - but most global media, with an urge to predict the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections, predicted a huge win for the Republican Party in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. But now, with Republicans scrubbing their websites clean of their former positions on abortion, immigration, and gay, lesbian, and transgender rights, predictions of a Republican wave are quiet.

Read more on the current landscape, and what to expect come November, here.