On October 10, President Donald Trump accused China of attempting to “hold the world captive” through its rare-earth export controls and threatened “financial countermeasures” in response. His remarks underscore a new strategic reality: Export controls are no longer a national security framework to regulate sensitive technologies; they are now a key instrument that can be used in the broader US-China rivalry.
China Expands Export Control on Rare Earth Minerals and More
On the 9th of October, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued two “New Rules”, two new decrees that substantially broaden and strengthen export controls across the rare earth supply chain. Decree No. 61 centers on foreign-produced rare earth metals and related products, while Decree No. 62 enhances oversight of rare earth-related technology. Our colleagues break down the new rules and their impacts on our Trade Practitioner Blog.
Understanding the New $100,000 H-1B Fee and its Effect on U.S. Employers
On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation entitled “Restrictions on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” that imposes a $100,000 fee for most new H-1B visa petitions and restricts the ability of certain H-1B visa holders to enter the United States. The H-1B program, widely used across industries to provide high-skilled labor, supports approximately three-quarters of a million U.S. workers. Our immigration and labor colleagues break down the Proclamation and its impacts on our Employment Law Worldview Blog.
Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan
President Trump’s Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan, released on July 23, 2025, marks a significant shift from the Biden Administration’s AI governance framework, most notably Executive Order 14110 (November 2023). The previous approach emphasized risk mitigation, civil rights protections, equity considerations, and oversight of advanced AI models under authorities such as the Defense Production Act. By contrast, the current plan prioritizes deregulation, infrastructure buildout, and global competitiveness—positioning US AI leadership as a national strategic imperative.
A Big, Beautiful Sequel? How Businesses Should Leverage Insights From Republicans’ First Reconciliation Bill to Prepare for a Second Tax Package
Stakeholders are just beginning to evaluate key tax policy changes in Republicans’ multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including the long-term impact of several new and modified business tax reforms. Nevertheless, less than one week after final passage of OBBBA, key congressional leaders, including House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID), have already expressed interest in considering a second tax and spending package before the end of 2025.
Firm Launches US Executive Actions Monitor
Squire Patton Boggs has launched its US Executive Actions Monitor, a site dedicated to tracking executive actions issued by President Donald Trump since taking office.
We offer an overview of all executive orders, providing summaries and analysis of their potential impacts, covering issues from economic and foreign policy to government reform and taxation. Our lawyers and policy professionals will continue to analyze Trump’s executive actions, providing ongoing updates as some of the directed actions may present significant constitutional questions that could be litigated and subsequently overturned or blocked.
As one of the world’s strongest integrated law firms, providing insight at the point where law, business and government meet, our analysis is guided by the skills and resources of both our public policy team and lawyers. This combined legal and policy perspective guides our analysis of Trump’s actions and how they will impact the shape of our nation and the world.
The EU’s Foremost Economic Retaliation Device – The Anti-Coercion Instrument
Under the leadership of President Trump, the US has adopted a new trade policy that may lead to the adoption of trade measures on imports from the EU. Given the importance of the US/EU trade relationship and the EU’s stated commitment to a free trade environment, the EU has said that it will adopt measures in response to such a US policy. The EU’s response may be calibrated according to the purpose of policies carried out by the US Administration.
On the Trade Practitioner blog , we provide an insight into the functioning of perhaps the most assertive (yet so far unused) trade instrument at the EU’s disposal to retaliate, the EU Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI).
The ACI is at the apex of the EU’s policy arsenal in international economic matters – it is for that reason that is has been referred to as a “bazooka”. While it has never been used so far, a very aggressive trade policy measure against the EU could prompt the EC to at least brandish the ACI as one of the more assertive instruments at its disposal against third countries, including the US or China. Should it ever be triggered, ACI response measures could severely affect trade or financial relations. US goods and services may be directly targeted.
Check out the full post on our Trade Practitioner blog.
Bipartisan Push to Strengthen American Supply Chains
There has been early bipartisan interest within the Senate Commerce Committee in continuing to promote US supply chain resilience. This highlights a new avenue for bipartisanship in the Trump Administration’s foreign policy agenda. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) has partnered with Democratic colleagues on the reintroduction of two pieces of legislation focused on supply chain resilience.
Check out the full post on our Global Supply Chain Law blog.
U.S. AI Export Controls and Strategic Shifts Under the Trump Administration
In recent days, the Biden administration’s reliance on export controls to curb China’s AI advancements has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly following the release of China’s DeepSeek R1 chatbot. This development raises concerns that prior U.S. restrictions have failed to slow China’s progress while potentially undermining U.S. global competitiveness in AI hardware and computing ecosystems. President Trump’s early actions—rescinding Biden’s AI executive order and emphasizing innovation over risk mitigation—signal a shift away from restrictive policies toward a more pro-innovation, market-driven approach.
DOGE and a New Senate Caucus May Further Empower Inspectors General
In the flurry of developments last week in the run-up to the inauguration, it was easy to overlook one that could have significant and positive impact by making government more effective, efficient, and economical.
On January 17, 2025, Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced the launch of a bipartisan Inspector General Caucus. The other members of the caucus are Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and James Lankford (R-OK). Quoting Senator Ernst, “Inspectors General serve a vital role in uncovering waste in Washington and must be empowered to continue looking out for taxpayers.” Quoting Senator Hassan, “Inspectors General play a critical role in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government and the bipartisan Congressional Inspectors General Caucus will help build support for the important work that Inspectors General do.” Quoting a representative of the Inspector General community, Mike Ware, the Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, “The Federal IG community looks forward to working with the bipartisan IG Caucus and Congressional leaders to enhance efforts to detect and prevent waste, fraud, abuse, improve government efficiency, and deliver for the American public.” Ware, who also serves as the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration and as the Acting Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, noted in a press release that the IG community’s work last year alone identified savings in federal programs of more than $93 billion, suggesting that there are even more savings to be found if IGs are given additional authority and resources to find them.
EU Publishes Regulation Banning Products Made With Forced Labour
On 12 December 2024, the Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) was published prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market. This is the definitive and legally binding version of the FLR.
As detailed in an earlier client insight, the prohibition on products made with forced labour, as set out in the FLR, and the resulting obligations and associated checks and enforcement, will only enter into force on 14 December 2027. Nevertheless, some provisions requiring EU Member States and the European Commission (EC) to prepare the framework for the application and enforcement of the FLR are already in force (e.g. in relation to the designation of competent authorities or the creation of forced labour databases). Companies operating in the EU would be well advised to begin surveying potential risks in their supply chains and establishing their own internal compliance programs.
Once the FLR fully enters into force, it will prohibit economic operators (meaning any natural or legal person, or association thereof) from placing or making available products made using forced labour on the EU market (including distance sales). It will also prohibit them from exporting such products from the EU.
New Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Active Anode Materials from China
On December 17, 2024, American Active Anode Material Producers, a trade association consisting of domestic manufacturers of certain active anode materials, filed petitions with the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking the imposition of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of such materials from China. The proposed tariffs could result in significant cost increases for electric vehicle (EV) production, as the active anode materials make up a substantial portion of battery costs, and may raise questions as to the availability of US domestic supply to meet domestic EV production needs.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: Initial Implications for Businesses & Investors
President-elect Trump’s foreign policy is beginning to take shape, based on pre-inaugural diplomacy and his appointments to date. Uncertainties abound, from unexpected world events—such as a sudden regime change in Syria—to Trump’s mercurial nature, the congressional confirmation process, and how his team settles into producing policy.
Sunsetting Tax Cuts Suggests a Shift to Business Protection Mode
Originally published by Bloomberg Tax
Businesses should prepare to defend against trillions of dollars in adverse tax changes in 2025 as Congress considers how to pay for extensions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—despite pledges from Republicans to protect their signature 2017 law.
Congressional leaders are preparing to consider major tax legislation under expedited reconciliation procedures in the first 100 days of the 119th Congress, a process that will restrict amendments and allow passage by a simple majority vote.
Because of this, businesses should begin identifying their policy priorities, developing legislative strategies, and refining narratives to prepare for this critical moment for US tax policy.
Transforming Defense: How Private Market Experience Among Key Defense Nominees Under Trump Could Revolutionize Pentagon Innovation
The incoming Trump Administration’s announced defense leadership nominees, with deep private market expertise, signal a potential shift in the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) ability to harness innovation from venture-and private equity-backed companies developing dual-use technologies. Historically, leadership interest in leveraging commercial innovation in this context has primarily resided at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) level, often without the direct experience necessary to effectively bridge military needs and private sector capabilities.
