Hot Topics In International Trade BLG Newsletter Articles And Upcoming Events

After the fall of the Empire in China in 1912, and before the takeover of China by the Communists in 1949, there was a period in which a number of warlords controlled different areas of China. The United States felt that there was a need for certainty in the dealings of its citizens abroad therefore, for more than two decades in the early twentieth century, the United States maintained an unusual federal court on foreign soil—one that exercised full judicial authority over American citizens living and working in China.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun processing IEEPA tariff refunds through its CAPE system, but Phase III covering finally liquidated entries faces delays and requires court orders. With the Department of Justice appealing the universal refund order and class certification pending, importers with finally liquidated entries may need to file individual lawsuits at the Court of International Trade to preserve their claims before statutory deadlines expire.

The U.S.-Canada trading relationship has reached a critical juncture as both nations implement escalating trade measures, with Canada's counter-tariffs taking effect and the United States responding with unprecedented import bans on Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and motorcycles. These actions mark a significant expansion of the Trump Administration's use of Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, moving beyond additional tariffs to outright import restrictions. What does this escalation mean

Five foundational ISDS decisions reveal how investment tribunals balance Indigenous consultation rights under ILO Convention 169 with treaty protections for foreign mining investors. This analysis examines the evolving legal framework governing State obligations, social license requirements, and the circumstances under which community opposition triggers treaty liability.

This monthly update tracks the latest developments in Russia/Ukraine sanctions across US, EU, and UK jurisdictions, covering new designations, general license extensions, legislative proposals, and enforcement actions. The update also examines Russia's countermeasures, including shadow fleet expansion and legal restrictions on foreign investors, while highlighting international coordination efforts by Switzerland, Canada, and New Zealand.

Navigate the latest international trade developments including new executive orders on electrical grid equipment, FCC updates to covered lists for power inverters and robotic devices, FinCEN's finalized beneficial ownership reporting rules, and BIS restrictions on critical mineral exports. Discover how these regulatory changes impact compliance obligations across multiple sectors.

Meet the legal professionals at Foley & Lardner LLP who specialize in serving clients across various practice areas. This directory provides direct contact information and professional profiles for attorneys Roberto Arena Reyes Retana, Marco Najera Martinez, Andres Alvarez Cordero, and Lilia Alvarez.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has launched antidumping and countervailing duty investigations targeting linear hydraulic cylinders from five countries, with petitioners advocating for an unusually broad scope that would trace component origins through multi-country supply chains and apply duties even after third-country assembly.

General counsel and chief compliance officers at growing organizations face mounting pressure to manage third-party risks across sanctions, anti-corruption, and export controls without building expensive internal infrastructure. Taft's technology-enabled solution centralizes screening, risk-based due diligence, and approvals while creating audit-ready documentation that satisfies boards and enforcement agencies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considering sweeping regulatory changes that would require importers to provide unprecedented visibility into their supply chains, including foreign export documentation, global business identifiers, and AI-driven tracing technologies. These proposed amendments stem from Executive Order 14411 and could fundamentally reshape compliance obligations for companies importing goods into the United States. CBP is seeking public comment on 64 questions by December 1, 2026, offe

Bob Brewer of The Braumiller Group is joined by Ginger in a discussion about China's dominance in Humanoid Robotics.

Bob Brewer of The Braumiller Group is joined by Victoria Holmes of the Dispatch to talk about global trade and drones​.

A weekly view of the 2026 USMCA joint review: what has changed, what has not, and what it means for your compliance program.

Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group is joined by Victoria Holmes from The Dispatch. Any and All Things Related to the Strait of Hormuz Hot Topics in International Trade​

The U.S. sanctions landscape continues to evolve as the current Presidential Administration increasingly relies on sanctions and targeted licensing to advance its foreign policy objectives in Cuba and Venezuela. Although these policies pursue markedly different economic outcomes, both are implemented through the same sanctions framework. On one hand, the Administration has sought to expand economic opportunities in Venezuela by broadening authorizations for limited commercial activity through OFAC general licenses.

The GENIUS Act became Public Law 119-27 one year ago on July 18, 2025 (GENIUS Act — Public Law 119-27). Multiple federal regulators are preparing the regulatory framework to integrate digital money in the form of payment stablecoins into the existing conventional banking system. States are also exploring the use of stablecoins for payments and digital assets as a class of financial assets. All of this activity is building a new digital payments economy.

An announcement will take place next month at the 2026 New Delhi summit kicking off what some would consider the structural take off for BRICS and the beginning of the end for the U.S. dollar. What is that? BRICS Pay. First, let’s start with what BRICS Pay is not. Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov says that this is not a single currency, but rather a payment system. The purpose behind the platform is to link national payment systems and potentially, and in the future, link digital currencies of the central banks.

Council members in my Rust Belt city do something that has bothered me ever since I started paying attention. At virtually every legislative session that I have observed, when voting to adopt a new measure, they declare a “state of emergency”. Occasionally a resident asks a council member why they do this. Their response is that the city’s charter normally requires them to read a measure twice before passing it, which delays its effective date – but if they declare an emergency, then the measure is effective immediately.

The war with Iran is being fought with missiles, aircraft and naval forces, but some of its most consequential effects are disruptions impacting energy markets, international shipping, insurance, supply chains, and prices, while adding another layer of sanctions and tariff risk to international trade. The result is particularly significant because the Strait of Hormuz, at the center of the conflict, is one of the most important arteries in world commerce.

For those working in the export/import trade the term “brokering” would normally mean something to do with customs brokers. However, brokering also comes up in a completely different context: Export controls. What? The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) govern export of most defense articles and related technical data. Part 129 of the ITAR spells out the regulations on what is termed brokering. Part 129.2 defines a “broker” as any person ……who engages in the business of brokering activities.”