Worldwide: Trade Regulation & Practices

July brought several significant federal and state developments that could reshape alcohol industry competition, pricing practices, distribution structures, and cross-border trade. At the same time, Congress continues to consider sweeping legislation that would establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for hemp-derived delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) beverages. Together, these developments highlight evolving enforcement priorities, new compliance considerations, and potential structural changes that industry participants should monitor closely.

Florida's Attorney General has launched an antitrust investigation into CVS Health and its pharmacy benefit manager Caremark, examining whether the company inappropriately steered patients to CVS pharmacies and reimbursed them at higher rates than independent pharmacies. The investigation, part of a broader multi-state scrutiny of PBM business practices, seeks documents and testimony on policies related to transparency, reimbursement rates, audits, and market concentration in an industry where three PBMs co

President Trump has signed a proclamation imposing new tariffs on polysilicon and its derivatives under Section 232, establishing a minimum import price regime and additional duties on downstream products.

President Trump has signed three proclamations imposing 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods under Section 338, citing discriminatory treatment of U.S. exports. Meanwhile, U.S.-Mexico trade negotiations continue in Mexico City as both countries work to revise USMCA provisions before the agreement's long-term viability is threatened.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has imposed a 25% additional tariff on certain Brazilian merchandise effective July 22, 2026, marking the first major country-specific Section 301 tariff measure following the invalidation of IEEPA-based tariffs. The action follows a year-long investigation into Brazilian policies covering digital trade restrictions, intellectual property protection, and deforestation concerns, with broad exemptions for agricultural, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and energy products.

The Department of Justice's Trade Fraud Task Force has reached a billion-dollar milestone in recoveries within its first year, signaling an unprecedented escalation in customs and trade enforcement. With the establishment of a dedicated prosecuting section and new criminal cases targeting country-of-origin fraud, how will this coordinated federal crackdown reshape compliance obligations for importers and supply chain participants?

Recent federal and state developments reveal the ongoing tension between traditional alcohol regulation and emerging market forces.

The European Commission's draft new EU Merger Guidelines and the UK's evolving approach signal a shift in how mergers are analyzed amid changing geopolitical dynamics. Partner James K. Hunsberger joins Brunswick's Stuart Hudson and Matthew Hall to explore what these regulatory changes mean for merger control, examining potential EU/UK convergence or divergence and the growing risk of politicization in competition reviews.

The U.S. Trade Representative has opened a narrow window for companies to advocate for tariff relief on Chinese imports and enhanced market access for U.S. exports through a newly established U.S.-China Board of Trade. With a July 10, 2026 deadline approaching, businesses must quickly develop evidence-based submissions identifying "non-sensitive" products worth approximately $30 billion in trade that could benefit from reduced tariffs following bilateral negotiations.