United States: Terrorism, Homeland Security & Defence

The FCC has expanded its Covered List to include foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices, effectively halting new equipment authorizations for these products. Companies must now navigate a complex Conditional Approval process to obtain exceptions, while existing authorizations and deployed devices remain unaffected.

The Federal Communications Commission has expanded its Covered List to include foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters, marking the third major product category restriction since December 2025. These devices now require Conditional Approval from the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security before receiving FCC authorization, based on national security determinations citing supply chain vulnerability and cybersecurity risks. Companies must navigate extensive disclosure requi

The FCC has expanded its Covered List beyond individual companies to encompass four entire categories of foreign-produced equipment, introducing new restrictions driven by national security concerns.

The Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, barring new models from equipment authorization required for US import and sale. With over 46 gigawatts of US grid capacity already relying on inverters, this action raises critical questions about transition periods, connectivity requirements, and the Conditional Approval process that functions as much as a reshoring mechanism as a security review.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued an aggressive proposed rule that would substantially revise regulations implementing the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, significantly expanding disclosure obligations for foreign ownership of agricultural land. The proposal broadens the definition of agricultural land, lowers reporting thresholds, and substantially increases penalties for non-compliance, reflecting heightened national security concerns about foreign ownership of U.S. agr

China retaliates against EU sanctions with export bans on 14 European companies, escalating trade tensions over Ukraine war spillover. The US Senate advances sweeping Russia sanctions legislation while Treasury continues targeting Iranian networks. How will these interconnected developments reshape global trade relations and strategic supply chains?

The Bureau of Industry and Security is dramatically expanding its enforcement capabilities and budget, signaling a fundamental shift in how export controls will be administered and enforced. With penalties increasing 18-fold and major settlements against technology companies, the agency is moving beyond traditional compliance approaches to implement broader oversight of critical supply chains and foreign-adversary technology risks. Under Secretary Kessler's testimony reveals plans for unprecedented resource

Recent foreign terrorist organization designations of major cartels have created a new compliance landscape for companies operating in Latin America, layering Antiterrorism Act liability onto existing anti-corruption and sanctions frameworks. Well-intentioned business activities, from third-party relationships to routine payments, can now expose companies to material support claims through DOJ, Treasury and FinCEN enforcement actions. Understanding these heightened risks and building integrated, risk-based

Q2 2026 marked a pivotal shift in the space and satellite sector as commercial systems became increasingly embedded in regulatory frameworks, government procurement, and operational governance.