Over the past few weeks, the Trump administration marked the latest phase in its escalation of sanctions against Cuba, the subject of the longest running U.S. sanctions program. On May 1, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14404, establishing
Cleary Foreign Investment and International Trade Watch
The Cleary Foreign Investment and International Trade Watch, published by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory updates related to foreign investment, international trade, and economic sanctions. The blog covers topics such as foreign direct investment screening, export controls, sanctions enforcement, international trade litigation, and government reviews of cross-border transactions. It also addresses issues involving U.S. and EU trade policies, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews, and compliance with export administration regulations. The blog provides analysis of significant court rulings, regulatory changes, and policy trends affecting multinational corporations and investors engaged in global commerce.
Latest from Cleary Foreign Investment and International Trade Watch - Page 2
DoD Proposes Expanding Foreign Ownership Screening Beyond Classified Contracts
On May 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) published a proposed rule (the Proposed Rule) that would, for the first time, require companies performing unclassified work for DoD to disclose whether they are subject to foreign ownership, control,…
OFAC Authorizes Commercial Negotiations With the Government of Venezuela and Certain Financial Services
Cleary Gottlieb Comments on CFIUS Known Investor Program and Process Streamlining
The Cleary Gottlieb CFIUS team submitted a comment on March 18, 2026 in response to the Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), as chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United…
OFAC Lifts Belarus Sovereign Debt Ban, Eases Sanctions on Belarusian Potash Sector
On March 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) rescinded Directive 1 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14038, which had prohibited transactions in Belarusian sovereign debt with maturity of longer than 90…
OFAC Expands Authorized Activities in Venezuelan Mining Sector
On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended an existing General License (GL) and issued two new GLs authorizing new activity in Venezuela’s mining and minerals sectors. Since January 2026, the…
NSD Flags Its Role as the Front Door for National Security-Related Voluntary Self-Disclosures Under the New Department-Wide Corporate Enforcement Policy
On March 30, 2026, the Department of Justice’s National Security Division (NSD) issued a press release reinforcing that companies seeking to voluntarily self-disclose criminal violations of national security laws—including export control and sanctions laws, and foreign investment and foreign telecommunication…
OFAC Issues GL 52, Further Loosening Sanctions Against PdVSA
On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License (GL) 52, authorizing certain transactions involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or…
OFAC Expands Venezuela Sanctions Relief to Fertilizers and Petrochemical Products, Investment in Petrochemical and Electricity Sectors
On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued three amended General Licenses (GLs), extending authorized activities to include the export of petrochemical and fertilizer products from Venezuela, as well as new…
OFAC Issues Temporary Reprieve for Certain Russian-Origin Crude Oil Shipments
On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License 134 (GL 134) authorizing, until April 11, 2026, transactions relating to the sale, delivery, and offloading of Russian-origin crude oil…