The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) have released The Transatlantic Economy 2025 , the 22nd edition of their annual report detailing the strength …
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Board of Directors has unanimously approved a second amendment to a direct loan of up to $4.7 billion to support the export of U.S. equipment and services for an integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique. Originally authorized in 2019, the transaction had been delayed for four years and now moves forward with no material changes.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick told trade practitioners to expect a significant increase in fines for export control violations and he called called for expanded cooperation with industry and allied governments to stem the flow of U.S. semiconductor technology to China. Speaking at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Update Conference, Lutnick directly accused Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek of acquiring U.S. chips through improper channels. “People took our chips and redirected them to China for money,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not that much money, and sometimes it’s a lot of money, but they’re seeking to destroy our way of life by assisting those who are against it.”
Following Senate action last week, House Republicans reintroduced the bipartisan Foreign Investment Guardrails to Help Thwart (FIGHT) China Act. The legislation establishes a "comprehensive outbound investment screening regime that protects the savings and retirement accounts of hardworking Americans. The bill creates targeted restrictions to ensure U.S. investors are not unwittingly financing the CCP’s military and surveillance capabilities."
Responding to the Trump Administration's recent endorsement of foreign corrupt business practices, three leading European anti-corruption agencies announced the formation of a collaborative effort to maintain law and order in the public integrity sphere.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will hold a public hearing on March 24 and 26, 2025, as part of its Section 301 investigation into the People’s Republic of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. While the hearing is on the record, external cameras and video recording are prohibited, and proceedings will not be livestreamed.
March 13 the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Kessler as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security by a mostly party-line vote of 54 to 45. Upon taking office, Kessler has pledged to review and reform BIS operations, particularly its role in preventing China and other adversaries from accessing advanced U.S. technologies. He has expressed skepticism about the AI Diffusion Rule, questioning its effectiveness in addressing national security risks and signaling his intent to revisit its implementation.
With little fanfare, the Secretary fo State has assumed authority over a broad swath of trade and immigration policy, potentially setting up even more confusion and opacity as the new adminstration reshapes the federal government.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced legislation aimed at combating trade crimes committed by companies based in the People's Republic of China (PRC) that violate U.S. trade laws and harm American workers and businesses. The Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act seeks to establish a new task force within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and prosecute trade-related offenses.
In a sweeping overhaul of the Justice Department’s senior leadership, the White House has removed or reassigned dozens of career officials, particularly within the National Security Division (NSD), signaling a dramatic shift in the department’s priorities and approach to the rule of law. The moves reflect the President’s unconventional approach to governance, marked by a disregard for institutional norms and an emphasis on loyalty over established legal expertise.
Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) have introduced the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act , a bipartisan measure aimed at enhancing …
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) has raised serious concerns over the potential consequences of the Trump-Johnson full-year Continuing Resolution (CR), particularly its impact on U.S. export controls and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The proposed legislation, set for a vote this week, grants the Trump administration broad discretion over federal spending, eliminating congressional directives that typically ensure funding for critical national security priorities, including sanctions, export controls, non-proliferation and emerging technology policy.
The White House having declared a policy of indifference to foreign corrupt practices, Justice officials abruptly scrubbed plans to participate in the American Bar Association's annual Conference on White Collar Crime in Miami. In a related development, two former Cognizant Technology Solutions executives charged over an alleged foreign bribery scheme may get a reprieve, as the newly installed US attorney for New Jersey, John Giordano asked the judge for a six-month extension “to allow sufficient time for my consideration” of the Executive Order. Two weeks earlier, the US Attorney’s office had indicated to the court that it was prepared to proceed with the trial.
President Trump announced the creation of a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House to boost the U.S. defense industrial base. The administration will resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding, he said. The order reportedly includes measures ranging from raising revenue from fees on Chinese-built ships and cranes entering the U.S., to establishing a new office at the National Security Council to strengthen the domestic maritime sector.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the President's policies with Larry Kudlow at The Economic Club of New York event on March 6, 2025. "The president has already begun a campaign to rebalance the international economic system," he asserted. "Perhaps we are seeing an early big win with Germany's discussions to dramatically boost its military spending."
Still harboring a grudge dating back nine years, the President announced that a law firm that worked for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign will be sanctioned, as he finds "good cause to conclude that they neither have access to our Nation’s secrets nor be deemed responsible stewards of any Federal funds." According to The Washington Post, "the move could have a chilling effect on law firms’ willingness to take on clients and cases that run counter to the Trump administration, challenging a fundamental tenet of the rule of law in the United States that everyone should have access to legal representation."
Peter Harrell, Non-Resident Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, attorney, and host of the Security Economics Podcast shared with us his take on the anticipated timeline for upcoming tariff and trade actions under the Trump administration. While some dates are speculative and all are subject to change, the following milestones are expected:
Speaking at the Federal Bar Association’s (FBA) annual Qui Tam Section Conference, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston reaffirmed the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) commitment to rigorous enforcement of the federal False Claims Act (FCA), with a particular focus on illegal foreign trade practices. With the administration's more relaxed stance on foreign corruption, the resources previously focused on FCPA enforcement may find employment policing tarrif compliance. Mr. Granston linked the DOJ’s aggressive FCA enforcement efforts to broader government priorities aimed at enhancing efficiency and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
The left-leaning news site The Intercept has published a primer on "How to Leak Under the Trump Administration," advising federal employees on best practices for communicating with the press outside official channels. To minimize risks, the article advises whistleblowers against using standard communication methods, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media, as these can expose metadata that links sources to journalists.
Thursday 27 February FinCEN announced that it will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against any companies based on any failure to file or update beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports pursuant to the Corporate Transparency Act by the current deadlines.