Chapter News, News

ECB | Cash Remains Most Widely Accepted Payment Method in Euro Area

Overall, 92% of companies with physical points of sale accept cash Cash acceptance rebounds after decline observed during and after pandemic Cash widely valued for privacy and reliability, while acceptance of mobile payments rises sharply According to the latest survey on the use of cash by companies in the euro area published today by the European Central Bank, cash acceptance has rebounded slightly. In 2026, 92% of companies selling goods and services in physical locations in the retail trade, restaurants and cafés,...

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Chapter News, News

European Commission | New Packaging Rules for Less Waste and Easier Recycling

From 12 August 2026, new rules on packaging and packaging waste apply in the EU. This will change the way products are packaged to protect the environment and people’s health. It will also create opportunities for businesses. Packaging uses large quantities of raw materials and generates waste that ends up in landfills or the sea. Some chemicals used in packaging can also be harmful. The new rules address these issues by setting requirements for the manufacturing and composition of all packaging placed on the EU market. They also require...

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Member News, News

Orbiss | Key U.S. Business Dates for the Second Half of 2026

Key dates, fewer surprises. A guide to business deadlines and holiday closures in the second half of 2026. For international companies operating in the U.S., the second half of 2026 includes several dates that can affect tax filings, payroll, banking, employee records, and year-end reporting. Here are the main dates to keep on your calendar for the rest of 2026. Key Compliance Dates If you own a U.S. company or manage one from overseas, your operations likely depend on several third parties, including...

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Member News, News

Ogletree Deakins | Beyond the Data, Part I: Using AI Tools to Turn Workforce Data Into Preventive Compliance

Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted workforce analytics and simpler changes to how reports are generated and reviewed can both help employers continuously monitor that data and correct issues earlier, reducing wage-and-hour exposure in California and beyond. This article opens a new series, “Beyond the Data,” on turning existing workforce data into a preventive compliance program. It also introduces a simple, five-stage framework that the rest of the series will build on. Quick Hits Most employers already possess the workforce data and systems needed...

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Member News, News

Trepp | Office Deals Led CMBS Growth Through July 2026, & Data Centers Arrived

Domestic private-label commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) issuance reached $76.2 billion through July 2026, measured by loan balance when each deal was sold, according to Trepp data as of July 31. Single-asset, single-borrower (SASB) deals, each backed by one property or one owner, made up $58.0 billion. Conduit deals, which pool many smaller loans from different owners, made up $16.1 billion. A small remainder came from large-loan deals. Office was the single largest property type at 22.7% of issuance, or $17.3...

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Member News, News

RSM | Concentration Risk is Reshaping Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Why middle market manufacturers and energy companies face rising volatility Key takeaways Supply chain risk stems from geographic concentration across mining, processing and refining. That concentration risk is colliding with accelerating demand across multiple sectors. Disciplined working capital strategies can help organizations balance resilience with liquidity. Critical minerals—including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, copper and platinum group metals—are essential inputs for manufacturing and energy companies. They underpin everything from industrial components and advanced manufacturing to power generation, grid infrastructure, electric vehicles and defense applications. Supply...

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Member News, News

Foley Hoag | Stand and Deliver: Dispute Boards and Other Mechanisms to Manage Life Sciences Disputes in Real Time

Key Takeaways: Recent rule developments from major international institutions provide sophisticated frameworks for managing disputes as they arise. The American Arbitration Association’s International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR) is developing dispute board rules specifically tailored to the life sciences industry, signaling growing institutional focus on the sector’s unique dispute resolution needs. Rule developments from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) similarly reflect the...

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Member News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

Jaguar Freight | When You Cherry-Pick the Data

In this week’s Roar: Are tariffs helping the U.S. trade deficit as intended? Ocean carriers rake in the profits, oil continues to be volatile, a mixed outlook for air cargo, and a likely extension of the Jones Act waiver. Can we say at this point if tariffs are helping the U.S. trade deficit? Not definitively. The June data shows the deficit narrowing to $73.3 billion, down from $77.6 billion in May, and down 33.8% year-to-date versus 2025. That’s the direction tariff proponents...

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Member News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

Troutman Pepper Locke | Polysilicon Under Pressure: New Section 232 Tariffs Reshape Solar and Semiconductor Supply Chains

Key Points On August 6, 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 15% ad valorem tariff and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, effective December 4, 2026.  The minimum import price program sets price floors of $21/kg for polysilicon, $100/kg for ingots and wafers, $0.22/W for solar cells, and $0.38/W for solar modules, with materially inaccurate certifications triggering a permanent import ban.  Raw polysilicon is subject only to...

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News, TRIA News

DFC | Announcement of Financing for Madagascar Rare Earths Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced it will provide project development funding for the Harena Rare Earths plc (LSE: HREE, OTCQB: CRMNF) rare earth mine in Madagascar. The funding, announced during the American Mining Industry event held at U.S. Department State, marks DFC’s first mining investment in Madagascar, advances the development of a strategically important source of rare earth elements essential to U.S. advanced manufacturing, and builds on DFC’s strategic portfolio of rare earths assets,...

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