South America: International Law

US-designated criminal organizations control Venezuela's mineral-rich Bolívar state, using illicit gold mining to evade sanctions and fund operations. Following Nicholas Maduro's capture, the US and new Venezuelan government are deploying military force and economic reforms to dismantle these networks, but success depends on breaking entrenched corruption while attracting legitimate foreign investment.

The Brazilian Office of the Comptroller General has released significant updates to its anti-corruption enforcement framework, including a revised Corporate Liability Manual with clearer penalty calculation parameters and a new Leniency Guide. Meanwhile, the U.S. designation of Brazilian criminal organizations PCC and CV as terrorist entities creates immediate compliance obligations for companies with international exposure, particularly those using U.S. financial systems or services.

Brazil's CGU has released updated guidance on corporate liability enforcement, leniency agreements, and anti-corruption transparency measures. Meanwhile, the U.S. designation of Brazilian criminal organizations PCC and CV as terrorist entities creates immediate compliance obligations for companies with international exposure, requiring enhanced due diligence protocols and sanctions screening procedures.

Mexico's 2026 judicial reform amendment attempts to address concerns from the controversial 2024 constitutional change requiring democratic election of all judges, but critics argue it fails to resolve fundamental issues of judicial independence that could deter foreign investment. As the country prepares for its next judicial elections in 2028, international observers and credit rating agencies warn of unprecedented risks to institutional integrity and investor confidence.

La primera revisión conjunta del T-MEC confirma que Estados Unidos no extenderá el Tratado en su forma actual, iniciando un ciclo de revisiones anuales que pondrá a prueba las cadenas de suministro norteamericanas. Las empresas enfrentan ahora un escenario donde demostrar integración regional, sostener el origen con evidencia documental y adaptarse a reglas más restrictivas determinará quién conserva acceso preferencial al mercado estadounidense.

Brazil has officially promulgated the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for Patent Procedures through Decree #13,011/2026.