50. September 5, 2025 | Modification Of Reciprocal Tariffs

President Trump has signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, dramatically expanding U.S. sanctions on Russia's financial and energy sectors while establishing unprecedented tariff authorities on Russian goods and imports from countries purchasing Russian energy.

President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law on September 18, 2026, establishing mandatory tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and up to 100% on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian energy. The Act targets major importers like China, India, and Turkey, with limited relief mechanisms including natural gas exceptions, presidential waivers, and a 270-day winddown period for entities divesting from Russian operations.

On January 12, 2026, President Trump announced via Truth Social: "[e]ffective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay...

On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (Act), a significant package of sanctions, trade restrictions and related measures...

The Trump administration's Venezuela oil deal and expanded General Licenses have opened unprecedented opportunities for multinationals to invest in Venezuela's energy, mining, and telecommunications sectors, while simultaneously launching "Operation Economic Outcast" to impose crushing economic pressure on Iran.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security issued guidance on May 31, 2026, clarifying licensing requirements for advanced computing items and AI technologies. The guidance maintains export restrictions for entities in certain countries while providing limited relief for data center operators, though questions remain about future regulatory direction. Companies must now strengthen their compliance programs and supply-chain due diligence as BIS continues to prioritize national security

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

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that importers with court orders for IEEPA duty refunds on finally liquidated entries can begin filing for those refunds starting October 6, 2026, through the CAPE Phase 3 system. This development follows the Supreme Court's February 2026 decision striking down IEEPA tariffs and represents a critical step for importers seeking refunds on entries liquidated for more than 80 days.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5334, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which directs the President to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on Russian imports and up to 100 percent on imports from countries that are significant purchasers of Russian energy. The bill includes provisions for Presidential waiver authority and a five-year sunset clause...

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.

In Advance Local Media LLC v. Cohere Inc., Judge Colleen McMahon of the Southern District of New York denied Cohere's motion to dismiss claims brought by a consortium of major news publishers.

Today, OCR settled its 46th case in a series of enforcement actions under its right of access initiative. This time, the settlement was with Optum Medical Care of New Jersey...

The United States Patent and Trademark Office released new guidance on artificial intelligence and inventorship on November 28, 2025, clarifying that the same standards for inventorship...

On July 18, 2024, a bill was introduced in the New York City Council that would require New York City employers with 25 or more employees to report detailed...

Effective January 1, 2024, California expanded its restrictions on employee non-compete and other restrictive covenant agreements to prohibit employers from entering into or attempting...

As Father Time marches towards 2024, how do we spur the CRE market? A new MarketWatch article forecasts a potentially gloomy year for CRE, but there are still reasons to be hopeful.

On December 4, 2025, the New York City Council overrode a veto by Mayor Eric Adams, 40-7, and enacted two bills, 982-A and 984-A, which together would require (i) private employers with more than 200 employees...

Yesterday the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (the "CDFI Fund") announced the award of $3.5 billion in Federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation authority through its annual and competitive application process. Eighty-five organizations certified as Community Development Entities (CDEs) received the awards, while over 282 CDEs applied.

Thompson Coburn partner Aaron Lacey, co-chair of the firm's nationally recognized Higher Education Practice, has been appointed by the U.S. Department of Education...

Just across the California-Arizona border, there's an appellate case worth paying attention to, because it could signal whether California courts will hold that a commercial lease to operate...