Capping off a highly eventful week in Asia at the end of October, President Donald J. Trump has further reshaped the landscape of U.S. trade with the Asia-Pacific region through a series of new agreements. This latest round of negotiations includes new reciprocal trade deals and market access commitments across Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan. Some of these agreements build upon the foundation laid by Executive Order 14346 (Sept. 5, 2025). That order provided for zero percent tariffs on products listed in Annex III, once a qualifying trade deal was announced.[1] With some agreements now in place, Annex III of the EO is being actively implemented.Continue Reading Shifts in U.S. Trade in Asia: Key Agreements from President Trump’s October 2025 Asia Trip – Part II: East Asia

Capping off a highly eventful week in Asia, President Donald J. Trump has further reshaped the landscape of U.S. trade with the Asia-Pacific region through a series of new agreements. This latest round of negotiations includes new reciprocal trade deals and market access commitments across Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan. Some of these agreements build upon the foundation laid by Executive Order 14346 (Sept. 5, 2025). That order provided for zero percent tariffs on products listed in Annex III, once a qualifying trade deal was announced.[1] With some agreements now in place, Annex III of the EO is being actively implemented.Continue Reading Shifts in U.S. Trade in Asia: Key Agreements from President Trump’s October 2025 Asia Trip – Part I: Southeast Asia

As Russian Energy Week concluded last week, Western governments strike to the heart of Russia’s energy sector with sanctions packages to cut of revenue that funds Russia’s continued war against Ukraine. Three significant packages were announced in October 2025: the U.S.’s sanctions targeting the Russian energy sector, the UK’s latest sanctions against the Russian oil industry, and the EU’s 19ᵗʰ package of sanctions.Continue Reading Striking Russian Oil and The Ripple Effects

On October 17, 2025, the Trump Administration released a significant proclamation imposing new Section 232 duties on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) (such as trucks); MHDV parts; and buses. These changes further expand tariff coverage over sectors critical to U.S. industrial capacity and national security, and bring a few new complexities to both importers and domestic manufacturers.Continue Reading Not Only Tariffs on Trucks: Trump Administration’s Proclamation Amends the Tariff Landscape on Automobiles, Steel, and Aluminum

Update (November 2025): BIS suspended implementation of the Affiliates Rule for one year, temporarily reversing the extension of Entity List and MEU-related controls to foreign affiliates that are 50% or more owned by listed entities. In a final rule effective November 10, 2025, BIS stayed the interim rule’s amendments to the EAR until November 9, 2026, absent further extension. During the suspension period, the EAR reverts to the prior “legally distinct” test, meaning foreign affiliates are not automatically covered solely by virtue of 50% ownership. The suspension comes as result of trade negotiations with China, which we discuss our recent blog series on U.S. Trade in Asia.Continue Reading Not Your Usual Monday: BIS Adopts 50 Percent Rule for Entity List, MEU List & Related EAR Controls

The pace of U.S. regulatory changes regarding Syria continues to increase. Building on our previous posts (“Syria-ous Changes for Middle East Business?” and “Unpacking the U-Turn: What the Syria Sanctions Repeal Really Means”), we describe below the recent developments that have resulted in significant easing of export controls.Continue Reading Keeping an EAR Out for Syria: BIS Reduces Export Controls

Key Takeaways

  • On July 24, 2025, the European Commission opened infringement procedures against 18 Member States for failing to fully transpose Directive (EU) 2024/1226 by the May 20, 2025 deadline.
  • The Directive harmonizes criminal offences and penalties for violations of EU sanctions, including asset freeze breaches, arms embargo violations, and circumvention schemes.
  • Penalties include prison sentences of up to 5 years for individuals and fines up to 5% of worldwide turnover or EUR 40 million for companies, plus additional restraining measures.

Continue Reading “Lost in Transposition” – Commission Targets 18 Member States Over Sanctions Enforcement Gaps

The United States has taken a historic step by terminating the Syria Sanctions Program, marking the most significant shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. In our earlier post, we outlined the initial steps taken by the U.S., EU, and UK to relax longstanding sanctions on Syria. Since then, the U.S. has introduced additional measures aimed at promoting commercial re-engagement, although several restrictions remain in place. Companies interested in doing business with Syria must stay current on evolving export control, sanctions, and compliance requirements.Continue Reading Unpacking the U-Turn: What the Syria Sanctions Repeal Really Means

In a significant shift in international policy, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom have each taken steps to ease sanctions on Syria, aiming to support the country’s reconstruction and political transition following the fall of the Assad regime.Continue Reading Syria-ous Changes for Middle East Business? The United States, UK, and Europe Relax Sanctions on Syria