In a move that the Wall Street Journal described as having the effect of “bringing down the curtain on U.S. support for the turbocharged globalization that powered the world economy for decades,” on April 2, 2025, President Trump announced the imposition of massive new tariff duties on what the Journal described as “trillions of dollars in imports.” The U.S.’s imposition of these tariffs has huge implications for international trade; the U.S. economy; the economies of other countries around the world; and the fortunes and prospects of individual companies seeking to operate in an increasingly fraught global economy. These developments also have significant implications for the potential liabilities of companies and their directors and officers, as discussed below.Continue Reading Massive New U.S. Tariffs:  What Are the Potential D&O Liability Implications?

As I have previously noted on this site, several international trade regulatory regimes have become increasingly important for companies and their executives. These regulatory regimes include U.S. sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering (AML), and anti-bribery and corruption laws. Recent developments, such as the War in Ukraine, trade tensions with China, and issues involving digital assets have heightened these concerns. Violations of these regimes can result in regulatory enforcement actions as well as in related civil litigation.

The latest example of a civil action following in the wake of a trade regulation enforcement action is the lawsuit filed earlier this week against data storage company Seagate Technology Holdings plc, after the company was hit with a U.S. Department of Commerce administrative penalty for violation of Export Administration Regulations (EAR) pertaining to the Chinese technology company, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. The recently filed securities suit shows how international trade regulation and enforcement can translate into corporate and securities litigation. A copy of the July 10, 2023, Seagate complaint can be found here.Continue Reading Trade and Export Control Enforcement Leads to Securities Class Action Suit