News, TRIA News

DFC | DFC CEO Ben Black Signs Loan Agreement for Lobito Atlantic Railway, Securing Critical Minerals for Mutual U.S.–Africa Benefit

Washington, D.C.– The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) held a greatly anticipated signing ceremony highlighting the financial close for the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR). This important milestone underscores the United States’ commitment to advance strategic infrastructure that promotes regional trade, mutual economic growth, and long-term U.S.-Africa cooperation. CEO Ben Black was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Caleb Orr, Angola’s Minister of Transportation Ricardo D’Abreu, Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) Group...

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Chapter News, Member News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

EIB | How are EU and US firms Navigating Higher Tariffs?

Tariffs and trade disruptions dominated headlines in 2025. European firms rely heavily on global trade – it represents about half of EU output. Despite that, European businesses are not radically overhauling their globalised approach. Instead, they are investing to make their supply chains more efficient and resilient. US firms are a different story. While they rely less on global trade (it represents roughly one-quarter of output), new tariffs caused them to reduce imports and diversify the countries they import from....

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Member News, News

Wilson Sonsini | Trump Administration Issues Executive Order on National AI Policy and Deregulation

On December 11, 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO), “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” that establishes a new federal policy on artificial intelligence (AI). The EO states that it is “the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI.” The EO asserts that leadership in AI is critical to U.S. national and economic security and dominance and...

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News, TRIA News

DFC | DFC Strengthens Strategic Partnerships with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to Bolster Supply Chain Security and Economic Growth

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced two Letters of Interest (LOIs) which will deepen strategic U.S. partnerships with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to advance economic growth, strengthen supply chain resilience, and bolster mutual security and prosperity. The first LOI is focused on a proposed DFC equity investment in a joint venture between Gécamines SA, the DRC’s state-owned mining enterprise, and Mercuria Energy Trading, a leading global commodities group. The partnership...

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Member News, News, TRIA News

EIB | EIB Global and EU, Under the Global Gateway Initiative, Support Wind Farm Expansion in Cabo Verde

€39 million EIB loan under the Global Gateway Initiative for the expansion of a landmark renewable energy project The new wind turbines and battery system inaugurated today are part of the wind farm expansion, which is expected to generate 30% of the country’s electricity The investment will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthen energy security Today, new wind turbines and a battery system were inaugurated in Cabo Verde, thanks to additional financing of more than...

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Chapter News, News

European Commission | Commission Announces Strategic Approach to Strengthen Europe’s Economic Security

Today, the European Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on strengthening Economic Security. It outlines concrete steps to reinforce the EU's strength and resilience in the face of growing external economic threats, while retaining our openness and commitment to international trade and investment. The Joint Communication builds on the Economic Security Strategy of 2023 which set the overarching economic security objectives of promoting industrial strengths, protecting European interests and partnering with like-minded countries. This Communication sets out the EU's strengthened approach to addressing risks, using all...

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Member News

Barnes & Thornburg | Trump Issues Executive Order on AI, Seeking to Curb State Regulation

Highlights The Trump Administration is seeking to create a uniform federal policy to promote the development of artificial intelligence. State laws that conflict with this policy may be challenged by the federal government in court or may result in the withholding of federal funding. For now, companies should assume that state AI and automated decision-making frameworks will move forward on their existing enforcement schedules despite the Order. “n a race with adversaries for supremacy…United States AI companies must be free...

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Chapter News, News

European Commission | Commission Takes Action for Clean and Competitive Automotive Sector

The Commission today presented the Automotive Package to support the sector's efforts in the transition to clean mobility. It sets an ambitious yet pragmatic policy framework to ensure 2050 climate neutrality and strategic independence while providing more flexibility to manufacturers. It also responds to calls by EU industry to simplify rules. The automotive sector has been key to Europe's industrial strength for decades, sustaining millions of jobs and driving technological innovation. As the world is changing, the car industry is transforming through new technologies and...

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Member News, Trade & TTIP Related

GDLSK | Court Rules That Liquidation Will Not Bar Importers From Recovering IEEPA Tariffs in Court Challenge

The Court of International Trade issued a decision today in the pending IEEPA litigation holding that liquidation of an entry will not bar the Court from granting refunds in the event IEEPA Tariffs are found to be unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump, 149 F.4th 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2025), cert. granted, No. 25-250, 2025 WL 2601020 (U.S. Sept. 9, 2025).  The decision, Slip Op. 25-154 in AGS Company Automotive Solutions, et al., v. United States, No. 25-00255, concluded...

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Member News

IPTI | Property Tax in the News – December 2025

IPTI’s usual monthly newsletter - the “President’s Message” - contains, inter alia, some summarised news articles from around the world. This IPTI publication - “Property Tax in the News” - contains some of the more interesting news articles concerning property taxes in North America and Europe which is where many of our members have a particular interest. Links to these and more, similarly summarised, articles - from North America, Europe and around the globe - can be found in...

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