JD Supra Trade Law

Vertical Conduct Violation Fines Dropped Six-Fold in 2025

A report indicates that fines for vertical conduct violations globally dropped six-fold in 2025 compared to 2024, with the number of infringement decisions halved. Despite this overall decrease, the European Commission remained the most active enforcer, focusing on the consumer and retail sectors, and resale price maintenance continued to be a key area of scrutiny.

UK Sanctions Nearly 300 Russian Entities

The UK has announced its largest sanctions package against Russia, designating nearly 300 entities involved in critical energy revenues, military supply chains, and financial institutions. These measures aim to disrupt Russia's war effort and access to international markets.

Court of International Trade Pauses IEEPA Refunds

The U.S. Court of International Trade has paused the immediate refund of duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) while leaving the underlying obligation to refund intact. This decision acknowledges practical limitations faced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in processing an estimated $166 billion in refunds for over 330,000 importers.

Italian SMEs Bill Expands Inventory Financing Securitizations

The Italian Senate approved an annual SMEs Bill on March 4, 2026, amending Law 130 to expand structuring options for inventory financing securitizations. The changes allow for foreign originators and multijurisdiction asset pools, enhancing Italy's position in the international ABS market.

DOJ Trade Fraud Task Force Revisits FDCA Charges

The DOJ's Trade Fraud Task Force, established six months ago, has announced its leading prosecutorial partner, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. This move signals an increased focus on enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) in trade fraud cases, building on past successful prosecutions involving honey import schemes.

CNIPA Stops Notifying Local Agents for Madrid Designations

The Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has ceased notifying local Chinese trademark agents for international trademarks designating China via the Madrid System. CNIPA now only serves the WIPO-recorded representative or the trademark holder directly, requiring proactive monitoring by rights holders and their representatives to avoid missing response deadlines.

Data Brokers Face New Compliance Rules from CalPrivacy and FTC

California and the FTC are implementing new compliance rules for data brokers. California's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) mechanism is now active, with data deletion requirements starting August 1, 2026. The FTC has also issued warnings regarding the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act (PADFAA).

CIT Suspends IEEPA Duty Refund Order for CBP ACE Functionality

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has suspended its order requiring immediate refunds of IEEPA duties. This suspension allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) time to develop new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) functionality to process these refunds, estimated to be implemented in 45 days. Importers are advised to complete electronic refund setup and consider filing protests.

Section 122 Tariffs Challenged in U.S. Court of International Trade

24 states have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging the Section 122 tariffs imposed by President Trump on February 20, 2026. The states argue the conditions for invoking Section 122 were not met and the tariffs exceed the statute's scope. This case is expected to be expedited.

Court Orders Removal of IEEPA Tariffs on U.S. Imports

The U.S. Court of International Trade has ordered the government to remove International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs on U.S. imports, following a Supreme Court decision. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated it could begin issuing refunds within 45 days, though importers are advised to monitor liquidation entries and file protests.