On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was launching Section 301 investigations into 60 trade partners to determine whether they have been engaged in forced labor practices. The investigations, to be conducted pursuant to Section
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OFAC Issues Russia General License Allowing Delivery and Sale of Russian Crude Oil and Petroleum
On March 12, 2026, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License 134, “Authorizing the Delivery and Sale of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products of Russian Federation Origin Loaded on Vessels as
Recent Paper and Postmark Changes Present an Opportunity for Plan Administrators
Thanks to SECURE 2.0, paper is back, requiring increased use of the traditional mail system through the United States Postal Service (“USPS”). A recently proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) from the Department of Labor (“DOL”) “narrowly implements” SECURE 2.0’s mandate requiring
USTR Releases President Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda and 2025 Annual Report
On March 2, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) delivered President Donald Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda and 2025 Annual Report to Congress. This year’s trade agenda seeks to promote U.S. interests abroad and reduce trade
CBP Reports Progress on IEEPA Tariff Refund Process
On March 12, 2026, Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) held a second conference with the parties in the Atmus Filtration, Inc. vs. United States, et al. litigation matter regarding the progress of Customs and
USTR Initiates Section 301 Investigations into the Acts, Policies & Practices of Certain Economies Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sector
On March 11, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) initiated investigations into the Acts, Policies, and Practices of Certain Economies Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sectors under Section 301 of the Trade Act
Word to the Wise – Carefully Review Reservation of Rights Letters
Shivam Gastonia, Inc. filed a verified complaint in Gaston County Superior Court against Accelerant Specialty Insurance Company alleging breach of contract for largely denying a tornado-related property and business interruption claim under a commercial policy covering a Quality Inn in
Insurers Cannot Avoid Claims Based on Continuing Damage
Insurance policies sometimes contain exclusions purporting to bar damage that began before the policy effective dates, but continues into the policy period.
That is what happened in Northfield Mass. Assocs., LLC v. Travelers Indem. Co.
In this case, the insured
Two Steps Importers Should Take Now to Prepare for IEEPA Tariff Refunds
On March 6, 2026, Brandon Lord, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official who, inter alia, leads CBP’s strategic efforts to enforce and protect tariff revenue, submitted a declaration to the U.S. Court of International Trade outlining a proposed