Search the archive.

Brazil’s Foreign Trade Chamber (GECEX) issued Resolution No. 938/2026 in July 2026, formalizing the continuation of the 12% export tax rate for crude petroleum oils and bituminous minerals. The resolution does not adjust the existing rate but confirms its ongoing applicability following a scheduled review period for these commodity export taxes. In-house counsel for Brazilian entities exporting these goods, as well as cross-border trade teams supporting such clients, must verify that customs filings, tax reporting, and supply chain documentation reflect the maintained rate to avoid compliance gaps, penalties, or shipment delays for post-resolution exports.

Recent amendments to Mexico’s judicial reform framework modify the scope of protections available to foreign investors under bilateral investment treaties, including new restrictions on local court jurisdiction and admissibility requirements for treaty-based dispute claims. These changes undermine the reliability of existing treaty recourse for investors facing regulatory actions, expropriation, or contract breaches tied to Mexican operations. In-house counsel for companies with current or planned Mexican investments should review existing investment structures, update treaty election clauses in cross-border agreements, and assess supplemental risk mitigation tools such as political risk insurance to address gaps in protection left by the reform.

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, in force since January 2026, is moving toward significant expansion. The Commission proposed in December 2025 to extend CBAM to downstream products, add anti-circumvention measures, and create a Temporary Decarbonisation Fund. The Council adopted its position in June, adding roughly 200 metal-intensive goods (forklifts, conveyor machinery, electric motor components) to the Commission's 180-product list. The European Parliament's ENVI committee voted in July to expand scope further to 457 products, including solar panels, heat pumps, and washing machine components, with a plenary vote expected in September. Trilogue negotiations will follow, with final adoption likely late 2026 or early 2027. The Q2 2026 CBAM certificate price was set at EUR 75.28. Importers should map supply chains now, secure third-party emissions verification, and prepare for expanded reporting obligations effective 2028.

On June 24, 2026, MOFCOM issued Announcement No. 24, operationalizing the State Council's March 2026 Regulation on Industrial and Supply Chain Security. The Measures create a formal investigation mechanism targeting two categories of conduct: discriminatory or restrictive measures imposed by foreign governments or international organizations on Chinese supply chains, and actions by foreign organizations or individuals that disrupt transactions with Chinese entities or adopt discriminatory practices causing substantial harm. MOFCOM may initiate investigations ex officio or based on stakeholder submissions, assessing impacts on critical materials, technology, capital, data, personnel, logistics, finance, and information flows. A cross-departmental coordination mechanism led by the State Council—spanning MOFA, NDRC, MIIT, Customs, and the Cyberspace Administration—signals a whole-of-government enforcement posture. Companies with significant China-based operations, suppliers, or customers should assess contractual exposure, document supply chain dependencies, and prepare for potential in

…