My lead item for this month’s newsletter comes from Australia. It is an article written by two leading academics - Peter Siminski, Professor of Economics at the University of Technology Sydney and Roger Wilkins, Professorial Fellow and Co-Director at the HILDA Survey, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne. They have “bravely” ventured to suggest that the Australian family home should be taxed. Their article is titled “The government has asked for bold proposals....

One of your first major considerations while moving to the US for work will be health insurance. Navigating the mostly privatized U.S. healthcare system without insurance might result in extremely costly medical expenses. Traditional Individual Health Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance are two popular choices for newcomers, however they have rather different functions. Making an informed choice for your wellbeing requires an understanding of the basic distinctions between these two. Travel Health Insurance: The Quick Fix Travel medical insurance is temporary...

Key Takeaways • Citi Research expects global growth to slow to below 2% in the second half of the year before rebounding to nearly 3% in the first half of 2026. Upside and downside risks to this forecast are roughly balanced. • President Trump continues to aggressively implement tariffs. We judge that the effective tariff rate is likely to remain above 15%, the highest level in decades. • The cost of tariffs is being borne by three groups: foreign exporters, importing U.S....

The long-awaited joint statement on the U.S.-EU trade deal was finally published. “The United States and the European Union intend this Framework Agreement to be a first step in a process that can be further expanded over time to cover additional areas and continue to improve market access and increase their trade and investment relationship,” the U.S. and EU said in the joint statement. Here are some key highlights: 1. The EU intends to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and to provide...

By Daniel N. Anziska, Megan Conway Rahman, Charlene C. Goldfield, Troutman Pepper Locke On August 6, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) released the unclassified version of its Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year (CY) 2024 (Report), depicting trends in the number of filings through CY 2024, distribution of foreign acquirer home countries, and updates on compliance and enforcement activity. Key Findings of the Report  CFIUS is required to publish an annual report under Section 721(m) of the Defense Production...

By Bryan Erdheim, Principal, The Medical Link Expanding business operations into the US market is a strategic move that presents both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges. Each state in the US has their own rules and regulations adding to the complexity of beginning US operations. Managing payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance becomes an immediate difficulty for an organisation not versed in such regulations. Fortunately, there exists a solution called PEO which is tailored to alleviate these burdens so companies can...

By H. Straat Tenney and Emma Bennett, Troutman Pepper Locke Businesses invest an immense amount of time, effort, and financial resources into building their brand identity and overall cultivating a strong foundation of consumer trust. This trust is not only a cornerstone of a brand’s reputation but is also a critical component of its long-term success in the marketplace. However, with the rise of phishing attacks, a brand’s trust can be quickly weaponized against unsuspecting customers when bad actors create...