Blogs

Download ArentFox Schiff’s Complete Annual 2025 Trade Secrets End of Year Report.

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.

As we noted back in August 2025, the Trump Administration is moving aggressively to implement its agenda on foreign adversaries’ influence on agricultural pursuits.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a Phase 1 clinical trial from Life Biosciences that aims to help certain eye cells act younger and improve vision in glaucoma and related conditions.

The District of Columbia has enacted the Extreme Heat Eviction Protection Amendment Act of 2025, which amends the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to prohibit housing providers from evicting tenants on days when extreme heat conditions are predicted.

2026 will be a pivotal year for US energy policy and markets. We predict it will be defined by pressure to deliver affordability and reliability amid accelerating load growth, contested jurisdiction between states and Washington, DC, continued investment in renewable energy generation (notwithstanding significant new headwinds), a renewed interest in fossil fuels of all types and nuclear generation, and a priority for an “all-of-the-above” build-out to power data centers and the broader economy.

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).

Trump Administration efforts to quash state-driven climate action were recently dealt a setback when a Michigan federal court rejected a federal effort to quash state claims focused on the fossil fuel industry.

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.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a workshop on January 27, entitled, “Moving Forward: Protecting Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements.”

On January 27, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Special Advisory Bulletin providing significant guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturers offering prescription drugs through direct-to-consumer (DTC) programs to patients enrolled in federal health care programs.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used as intentionally added ingredients in some cosmetic formulations, primarily on account of their water- and oil-resistance and long-lasting properties, for conditioning and smoothing the skin and hair, or for modifying product consistency and texture.

On January 21, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance clarifying the agency’s authority to access and copy records related to cosmetic products under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA). Cosmetic companies should take care to ensure that their recordkeeping policies and procedures comply with these requirements.

On January 22, in a 2-1 vote, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rescinded its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace, including portions addressing gender identity and LGBTQ+ issues.

Illinois’ data center market is booming because of strong state incentives, but that growth is tightening power supplies and raising reliability and cost concerns.

In an update earlier last year, we highlighted the ongoing legal developments in connection with key cases surrounding the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) manipulation scandal with respect to a pending United Kingdom (UK) Supreme Court hearing.

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.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

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.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) just issued a joint statement outlining 10 “Guiding Principles” for using artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development.

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.

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

Amid the flurry of employment laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025, Senate Bill No. 294 creates the Workplace Know Your Rights Act.

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.