Member News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

Thompson Hine | Importers of Record Flood CIT with IEEPA Tariff Refund Complaints

Key Takeaways: Hundreds of new cases have been filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) since the November 5, 2025 oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court (“SCOTUS”) in the appeal challenging the legality of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) as the statutory authority to impose tariffs and seeking to preserve potential refund rights for IEEPA-based tariffs paid by the plaintiffs. On December 15, 2025, the CIT denied a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking...

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Chapter News, News

ECB | The Euro in a Changing World

Keynote Speech by Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Danish Economic Society Conference Kolding, 9 January 2026 I am grateful to the Danish Economic Society for the invitation to participate in this conference. In line with the overall theme of the event, I will speak today about the implications of a changing world for the euro-denominated monetary system. In our 2025 assessment exercise that reviewed the monetary policy strategy of the ECB, the Governing Council...

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Chapter News, News

ECB | Bulgaria Introduces the Euro

1 January 2026 Euro banknotes and coins start circulating in Bulgaria Bulgarian National Bank joins Eurosystem Bulgaria becomes 21st euro area member Bulgarian National Bank now also full member of Single Supervisory Mechanism following period of close cooperation The euro officially entered into circulation in Bulgaria today, bringing the number of European Union (EU) Member States using the single European currency to 21. This follows on from the formal decision made in July, which also announced the official conversion rate of 1.95583...

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Chapter News

OECD | International Community Agrees Way Forward on Global Minimum Tax Package

The 147 countries and jurisdictions working together within the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have agreed on key elements of a package that charts a course forward for the co-ordinated operation of global minimum tax arrangements in the context of a digitalised and globalised economy. Following months of intense negotiations, the comprehensive package for a “side by side” arrangement announced today represents a significant political and technical agreement which will set the foundation for stability and certainty...

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Member News, Trade & TTIP Related

Barnes & Thornburg | New Year, Renewed Enforcement: Tariffs, Trade Compliance, and DOJ Actions to Watch in 2026

Highlights Department of Justice (DOJ) enforcement of tariff and customs compliance is accelerating. Recent criminal charges, corporate resolutions, and False Claims Act (FCA) settlements show coordinated civil and criminal scrutiny of tariff evasion, false country of origin claims, and transshipment practices. Financial and personal exposure is significant. Companies face large civil penalties and settlements, while executives and employees may be subject to individual criminal liability. Whistleblower driven cases continue to play a major role in enforcement. Strong compliance and...

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Member News, News

Wilson Sonsini | 2026 Year in Preview: European Digital Regulatory Developments for Companies to Watch Out For

January 8, 2026 As we ring in the new year, we want to make you aware of key issues that we expect lawmakers and regulators to focus on in the months ahead. Below are the top European digital regulatory issues to watch out for in 2026: European lawmakers will debate the relaxation of existing digital regulations. In November 2025, the European Commission (EC) published proposals to simplify the EU’s legal framework for data processing and AI, kickstarting a legislative process that will extend...

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Member News, News, Trade & TTIP Related

Troutman Pepper Locke | CBP Moving to Fully Electronic Refunds: What Importers Need to Know Now

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an interim final rule (the Rule) that will fundamentally change how customs refunds are paid. Effective February 6, 2026, CBP will, with limited exceptions, stop issuing paper refund checks and instead pay all refunds electronically via Automated Clearing House (ACH). The Rule implements federal law requiring electronic federal payments and aligns with Executive Order 14247, which requires that all federal payments and collections move away from paper checks and be conducted electronically. Comments...

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Member News, News

Loyens & Loeff | EU Tax Alert – Edition 213

The new edition of the EU Tax Alert is available. With this publication we would like to keep you informed about the latest developments on EU tax law. We have summarized the highlights of this edition below. European Commission opens public consultation on possible recast of the DAC On 16 December 2025, the European Commission opened a public consultation on a possible legislative proposal to recast the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (2011/16) (DAC). The consultation targets a broad range of stakeholders...

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Member News, News

Troutman Pepper Locke | Beyond the 50 Percent Rule: OFAC’s Recent Private Equity Enforcement Action Shows Why Ignoring Indirect Sanctions Risk Can Be Costly

Overview The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently announced an $11.5 million settlement of an enforcement action against a U.S.-based private equity and infrastructure investment firm (the firm) for violations of U.S. sanctions in connection with an investment indirectly backed by a sanctioned individual. The action provides important guidance on OFAC’s expectations regarding ownership, control, and indirect involvement by sanctioned persons, as well as the limits of relying on outside counsel when material facts are not...

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TRIA News

DFC | The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Announces Launch of Online Application Portal for U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced the launch of its new online portal for applicants to submit projects to the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF). This follows December’s announcement that the fund is fully operational and poised to start underwriting its first investments in 2026. “DFC is excited to begin 2026 with the launch of the URIF application portal. The fund is ready to deploy investments that will advance shared economic security and prosperity for...

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