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US Customs and Border Protection has issued new guidance identifying specific HTSUS classifications that are no longer subject to Section 338 duties on goods imported from Canada.
Mayer Brown releases practical guidance for companies to comply with the EU's forced labour regulation, which bans products made with forced labour from entering the EU market.
The Federal Maritime Commission's September 2026 rule confirms shippers can pursue demurrage and detention charge complaints through formal or small claims procedures while retaining OSRA's favorable burden-shifting framework.
The House-passed provision would mandate that covered shippers ensure 3%+ of imported cargo arrives on US-flag vessels, with penalties of at least 10% of cargo value for non-compliance.
The Federal Maritime Commission's September 2026 rule confirms shippers can pursue Charge Complaints through formal or small claims procedures while retaining OSRA's favorable burden-shifting framework.
The latest CFIUS annual report reveals a 7% rise in total filings, a notable drop in the clearance rate for short-form declarations, and a continued focus on non-notified transactions.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) released its annual report for calendar year 2025, showing a 7% rebound in total filings, reversing a two-year decline. The report indicates a tougher environment for parties using the short-form declaration process, as the clearance rate fell from 78% in 2024 to 66% in 2025, while requests that parties file a full notice rose to a three-year high. Sophisticated counsel and clients care because these trends directly impact deal certainty and timelines for cross-border transactions. Although CFIUS issued no civil monetary penalties in 2025—a sharp contrast to the five assessed in 2024—the report highlights continued enforcement through other means, including two noncompliance determinations and a court action to enforce a divestiture order. This signals that leniency on penalties does not mean reduced oversight. Transactional lawyers should advise clients that the declaration pathway now carries a higher risk of escalating to a longer, more intensive review, and the continued scrutiny of non-notified deals underscores th
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The White House has imposed import bans on certain Canadian products, including alcohol and dairy, under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in a significant escalation of the ongoing trade dispute.
In a significant escalation of a bilateral trade dispute, the White House has invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose import bans on a range of Canadian goods. The presidential proclamations, issued September 8, 2026, were a direct response to Canadian retaliatory tariffs and are set to take effect on September 29. The banned products include certain alcoholic beverages, dairy products, molasses, and motorcycle products. These measures compound existing 50% tariffs on other Canadian goods that took effect in August.
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The U.S. national-security investment review body saw a 7% increase in total filings in 2025, but its lower clearance rate for declarations and steady enforcement activity signal a more challenging environment for foreign investors.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has released its annual report for calendar year 2025, revealing a 7% increase in total filings to 347. Despite the rise, the number of unique transactions reviewed held steady, indicating more withdrawals and refilings. The report shows a notable shift in the handling of short-form declarations; while their use rose 21%, the clearance rate fell from 78% in 2024 to 66% in 2025. Consequently, the rate at which CFIUS requested a full notice following a declaration review reached a three-year high of 26%.
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President Sheinbaum has submitted a legislative proposal to create a formal screening process for foreign investments in sensitive sectors, similar to the CFIUS regime in the United States.
On August 30, 2026, the administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted a bill to the Senate to amend the country's Foreign Investment Law. The proposal aims to establish a formal national security screening mechanism for foreign direct investment in sensitive industries.
Sophisticated counsel and clients with interests in Mexico should take note. While the National Commission of Foreign Investment (CNIE) technically has the authority to block acquisitions on national security grounds, this power has been rarely used due to a lack of specific guidelines. The reform signals a significant shift toward a more structured and potentially stringent review process, mirroring regimes like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This could create new regulatory hurdles, extend transaction timelines, and increase deal uncertainty for foreign investors, particularly in sectors like technology, energy, and infrastructure.
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A coalition of US manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union has petitioned the Commerce Department and ITC to investigate alleged dumping of corrugated pizza boxes from China, Malaysia, and Turkey, and subsidies for Turkish imports.
The White House has banned imports of certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motor vehicles and expanded 50% tariffs to other goods in a significant escalation of the ongoing trade dispute.
On September 8, the U.S. president issued proclamations banning certain imports from Canada, including select alcohol, dairy, and motorcycles, effective September 29. The administration also modified the list of Canadian goods subject to 50% tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, adding some products and removing others, effective September 15.
This action marks a major escalation in the U.S.-Canada trade war, which began with U.S. tariffs in August and prompted immediate Canadian retaliation; the new U.S. measures are a direct response to those Canadian tariffs. These Section 338 duties stack on top of existing tariffs, such as those under Section 232, and do not exempt goods otherwise qualifying for USMCA preference, creating significant cost uncertainty for businesses with cross-border supply chains.
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The UK Government blocked Shenzhen HYT's acquisition of TTG Global Solutions in June 2026—the first prohibition this year—while major NSIA reforms approach, including new sectors for water, critical minerals, and semiconductors.
White House announced nine pharmaceutical manufacturers voluntarily participating in the Generous payment model implementing MFN pricing in Medicaid, receiving Section 232 tariff relief and waivers from Medicare MFN requirements.
A new bill submitted to the Mexican Senate would establish a formal process for screening foreign acquisitions in sensitive sectors, formalizing a power the government has rarely used.
On August 30, 2026, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration submitted a legislative initiative to the Senate to reform the country's Foreign Investment Law. The proposal aims to create a formal national security screening mechanism for foreign investments in sectors deemed sensitive.
While Mexico's National Commission of Foreign Investment technically has the authority to block foreign acquisitions on national security grounds, this power has been seldom used due to the absence of clear parameters and guidelines. The proposed reform would operationalize this review process, creating new regulatory hurdles and potential uncertainty for cross-border transactions. The development aligns Mexico with a global trend toward more robust foreign investment screening regimes, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
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The US is easing sanctions and Venezuela is passing new laws, creating major opportunities for foreign investors in energy, mining, and technology, with Chevron and Halliburton reportedly nearing deals.
Following the January 2026 removal of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela is reopening to foreign investment, driven by expanding US sanctions relief and new domestic legislation. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has been incrementally issuing and amending general licenses, authorizing new investment in the country's oil, gas, and telecommunications sectors. This has prompted major US operators to act, with Chevron and Halliburton reportedly nearing multibillion-dollar agreements to expand energy operations. For sophisticated clients, this represents a rare opportunity to enter a market with some of the world’s largest untapped oil reserves, along with significant needs in mining and infrastructure. The evolving legal framework and high-risk environment—including corruption and security concerns—require careful navigation. Counsel should monitor OFAC’s licensing updates and conduct rigorous due diligence, as the durability of the opening may depend on sustained political stability and continued US engagement.
US Customs and Border Protection has provided guidance for importers on reporting new tariffs of up to 100% on certain unmanned aircraft systems and components, effective September 3, 2026.
A new checklist offers five key considerations for manufacturers to mitigate the impact of tariff changes on input costs, production, pricing, and supplier relationships.
Multinational importers should understand how to secure IEEPA tariff refunds for entries more than 80 days beyond liquidation, which fall outside CAPE Phase 1 processing.
China's draft Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law, submitted for first reading on August 25, 2026, establishes sweeping extraterritorial reach and mandatory compliance obligations for companies with China operations.
A US Customs and Border Protection ANPRM contemplates requiring importers to provide foreign export data, use unique entity identifiers, and adopt new technologies for supply chain verification.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) signaling a potential shift from document-based compliance to a data-driven, technology-enabled model for supply chain verification. The notice contemplates requiring importers to obtain and potentially submit foreign export documentation, such as declarations and invoices submitted to foreign customs authorities. It also considers replacing the current Manufacturer/Shipper Identification Code (MID) with a more robust system using global business identifiers for all supply chain participants, from producers to packagers.
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