Insights on International Trade & Investment

Welcome to the February 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

ArentFox Schiff has released its latest annual report analyzing forced labor law developments and enforcement activity.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that five practice areas and 12 attorneys were recognized by Chambers Global 2026, including in the guide’s newly minted Global Market Leaders category.

While enforcement may have taken a backseat to other trade priorities in 2025, this year may be poised to bring a swift and aggressive return to form, particularly if the tariff landscape begins to stabilize.

The healthcare group purchasing industry continues to provide critical market savings to hospitals, nursing homes, and medical practices throughout the United States – even as a panoply of issues place undue strain on healthcare supply chains – according to the 20th Annual Report of the Healthcare Group Purchasing Industry Initiative (HGPII).

The US market is both coveted and feared by overseas consumer‑product suppliers. Coveted for its scale and purchasing power, with fear that US product‑liability litigation inevitably follows sales.

On January 29, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took its first steps to loosen the sanctions against Venezuela following the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro at the beginning of January.

On February 2, the US Department of Commerce issued a Federal Register Notice outlining “US content” exemption procedures and requirements under the Section 232 tariffs on certain medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs).

H-1B work visas are the most common work visas for foreign nationals in professional positions (which are jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific specialty). Most employers can only apply for a worker’s initial H-1B one time per year.

On January 20, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the World Economic Forum. Coming a week after his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, his remarks made headlines globally.

International Trade & Investment Partner and Customs & Import Compliance Practice Leader Angela Santos will present on recent developments in international trade at ABA International Law Section’s The Americas Conference on January 27, 2026.

In a January 20 interim final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) eased restrictions on the export, reexport, and transfer (in-country) of certain types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to lower risk destinations.

Welcome to the January 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Customs & Import Compliance Practice Group Leader and Fashion & Retail Industry Co-Leader Angela Santas was quoted on the impact of chronic uncertainty regarding tariffs on the fashion and retail industries.

Effective January 21, the United States will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries listed below.

The past year, global trade upended. Through aggressive use of tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), expanded Section 232 investigations, and a sustained enforcement crackdown, the Trump Administration made good on US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer’s promise to “remake the global order.” The result: a fundamentally different operating environment for importers.

On January 15, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule revising its license review policy for exports of Nvidia H200 chips and its equivalents to China and Macau.

Last year saw a number of significant developments in US export controls and sanctions.

On January 2, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) under Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 requiring HieFo Corporation to divest the digital chips business of EMCORE Corporation, which it acquired in April 2024, due to national security concerns.

Since the Trump Administration’s tariff actions began in February 2025, the US hospitality industry has weathered the resulting uncertainty and shown resilience. The industry’s fundamentals remain broadly stable: deals are getting signed, and development continues — albeit with tighter underwriting and recalibrated budgets.

The enforcement landscape entering 2026 points to sustained False Claims Act activity across traditional health care fraud, AI-enabled misconduct, civil rights–based claims, customs and tariff fraud, and expanding theories of investor liability.

In this episode of Five Questions, Five Answers, Birgit Matthiesen and Jessica DiPietro explore the historical context and implications of the Nixon Shock and the Trade Expansion Act, focusing on Section 232 investigations and their impact on US trade policy.

Many foreign nationals travel home during the holidays to visit family. Recent federal actions have significantly restricted international travel for some foreign nationals, creating a risk that some individuals could be stranded outside the United States for extended periods. These disruptions can affect both the individual and their US employer.

Welcome to the December 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the election of 18 new partners, effective January 1, 2026.