United States: Export Controls & Trade & Investment Sanctions

The U.S. Department of State has proposed significant revisions to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and U.S. Munitions List (USML), aiming to focus controls on defense articles providing critical military advantages while reducing regulatory burdens on less sensitive items. The proposed changes include targeted decontrols, new exclusions, modifications to the "specially designed" analysis...

This comprehensive sanctions update examines the US delisting of Venezuelan politician Jorge Rodriguez amid diplomatic negotiations and energy sector expansion, while tracking global sanctions developments including new US restrictions on Iranian banks, UK measures targeting hostile Iranian activities, EU designations for sanctions circumvention, and China's proposed export controls on advanced technologies.

As tariff policies shift and trade tensions escalate, multinational companies face mounting pressure to reassess supply chain strategies built on assumptions that may no longer hold. This analysis examines five critical best practices for building resilience against tariff volatility, from diversifying supplier networks to integrating trade risk into routine governance frameworks.

Following Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg's landmark victory in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, he returns to discuss his company's new lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's Section 301 tariffs at the US Court of International Trade. The conversation explores constitutional limits of executive authority and the broader implications these legal disputes hold for American businesses navigating the evolving tariff landscape.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has published comprehensive amendments to Cuba sanctions regulations, expanded Iran sectoral sanctions to include automotive and rail industries, and targeted multiple transnational criminal networks including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. Meanwhile, the UK and EU have strengthened Russia sanctions enforcement while providing targeted exemptions for specific energy projects, and Asia-Pacific nations are navigating complex sanctions compliance challenges.

The US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control conducted one of the Trump administration's most extensive crackdowns on cartel operations, designating 56 individuals and entities tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua. These sweeping sanctions targeted not only cartel leadership but also money launderers, corrupt Mexican officials, and financial facilitators, marking a significant escalation in Washington's network-focused approach to disrupting transnational criminal organizations

Explore critical insights on healthcare compliance, cryptocurrency regulation, supply chain risk, sanctions enforcement, and cybersecurity threats. Discover how operational models, regulatory frameworks, and emerging technologies are reshaping risk management across industries from freight logistics to digital assets.

Manufacturing and industrial companies have spent 2026 navigating strong growth opportunities alongside a more complex legal and business landscape. Strategic M&A has remained active across infrastructure, automation, energy, defense, and specialized industrial services, while tariff exposure, financing conditions, labor issues, cybersecurity, supply chain requirements, and export controls have continued to shape deal strategy and operational planning. Companies pursuing transactions, expansion, government contracting opportunities, or supply chain changes should evaluate these issues early to protect value, preserve flexibility, and move quickly when opportunities arise.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today issued Russia-related General License 135 (GL 135), “Authorizing Transactions Related to the Sale, Delivery...