South America: Government, Public Sector

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President Claudia Sheinbaum has submitted a significant initiative to amend Mexico's Foreign Investment Law, introducing national security screening mechanisms for foreign investments in sensitive sectors.

The United States has expanded its list of Mexican criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, adding the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras to six previously designated cartels. This development significantly impacts compliance and risk management for companies operating in Mexico with U.S. connections, as U.S. law prohibits providing material support to designated organizations and restricts transactions with blocked entities.

Mexico has experienced significant transformation following initiatives undertaken by the Mexican Federal Government during the last two presidential administrations. Through a combination of social programmes and legal and policy reforms, the living conditions of millions have improved. This has occurred without a significant increase in public debt and with federal tax rates remaining largely unchanged.

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella prepares to take office with an ambitious agenda to reverse his predecessor's leftist policies through business-friendly reforms, aggressive security measures, and energy sector expansion. His administration faces significant challenges including legislative opposition, fiscal constraints with a deficit exceeding 6% of GDP, and the complex task of combating sophisticated transnational criminal networks that generate billions in illicit revenue. Market opti

Brazil's Executive Management Committee of the Chamber of Foreign Trade has issued GECEX Resolution No. 938/2026, establishing a 12% export tax rate on crude petroleum oils for a 60-day period following the expiry of Provisional Measure No. 1,340/2026. The resolution addresses the regulatory gap created when the provisional measure failed to be converted into law within the constitutional timeframe, reinstating export tax provisions on products classified under NCM heading 2709.

O Tribunal de Contas da União estabeleceu que a retirada de uma empresa consorciada não resulta automaticamente na desqualificação do consórcio em licitações públicas. A decisão define critérios rigorosos para que as empresas remanescentes possam continuar no certame, exigindo comprovação prévia de capacidade técnica e operacional. Quais são os limites para alteração da composição de consórcios durante proces

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office has opened a public consultation on new regulations that would introduce fast-track processing options for industrial design applications, a mechanism not currently available in this category. The proposed framework includes priority pathways for elderly applicants, persons with disabilities, startups, litigation-related cases, and applications tied to patent filings or government permits, alongside a pilot project with quota-based allocation.

Flavia Marcilio and Giovanna Parigi contribute to a comprehensive study examining environmental crimes across the Amazon Basin, mapping Brazil's institutional framework for environmental enforcement and the legal pathways available to civil society organizations. The analysis explores critical challenges including violence against environmental defenders, jurisdictional fragmentation, and the admissibility of remote sensing evidence in judicial proceedings.

O Tribunal de Contas da União estabeleceu que a retirada de uma empresa consorciada não resulta automaticamente na desqualificação do consórcio em licitações públicas. A decisão define critérios rigorosos para que as empresas remanescentes possam continuar no certame, exigindo comprovação prévia de capacidade técnica e operacional. Quais são os limites para alteração da composição de consórcios durante proces

Recent legislative and judicial developments in Colombia have significantly expanded access to arbitration, introducing executive arbitration procedures and restoring arbitral jurisdiction over state contract disputes. These reforms provide businesses with faster enforcement mechanisms and greater flexibility in resolving commercial disputes, particularly those involving public entities.

Companies registered under Mexico's Certified Companies Scheme Registry (RECE) face significant challenges in tracking authorized tariff classifications for temporary imports. The 2026 renewal resolutions issued by Mexico's Tax Administration Service now provide enhanced documentation that helps certified companies reconcile their authorized tariff classifications with actual customs operations, offering a clearer framework for compliance and identifying potential regulatory gaps.