Alerts

On April 22, at the direction of US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and HHS published identical statements announcing the phase-out of so-called “petroleum-based” synthetic food dyes and their replacement with “natural alternatives.”

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

This week, the US House Ways and Means Committee released tax legislation that includes several provisions relevant to tax-exempt organizations.

On May 12, Matthew R. Galeotti, the head of the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, announced a new white collar enforcement plan, outlined changes to the Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Disclosure Policy, and added new priority areas to the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Policy. The DOJ also introduced a new corporate monitor selection policy.

Welcome to the May 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

On May 14, the US House Ways and Means Committee advanced its initial markup version of The One, Big, Beautiful Bill, following 17 hours of a Committee meeting to markup the bill with no changes from the 389-page text that was released on May 12.

President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) banning athletes assigned male at birth from competing in women’s sports. This applies to sports competitions within both educational institutions and athletic associations.

For decades, regulators have tried to quantify harm related to emissions, including the “social cost of carbon” (SCC), but that approach has now changed. The Trump Administration recently released a memorandum seeking to discontinue regulatory use of SCC except as required by law.

After a rollercoaster of activity related to the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the US Treasury Department (Treasury) announced on March 2 that it will not enforce any penalties or fines associated with beneficial ownership information reporting for US reporting companies.

On May 12, the United States and the People’s Republic of China announced a temporary 90-day agreement to roll back some of the reciprocal tariffs increases imposed in April.

A May 2 report from the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that as of March, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workforce had fallen by 11,443 employees, or 11%, due to probationary employee terminations and deferred resignations. This drastic reduction in the IRS workforce came amid cuts from the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

President Trump recently announced a plan to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the United States, leaving stakeholders in the entertainment industry concerned and confused.

Within the last month, the US District Court for the Northern District of California rejected efforts by United Behavioral Health (UBH) to dismiss and decertify two class actions seeking relief related to UBH’s processing of mental health claims.

The California Fourth District Court of Appeal’s decision in Reyes v. Hi-Grade Materials Co. continues the trend toward limiting plaintiffs’ abuse and improper weaponization of the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Last year, the New York Retail Worker Safety Act was signed into law. The Act will take effect on June 2, after which New York-based retail employers will be faced with new internal policy and training requirements for employees.

The current Administration is enforcing a law initially enacted in 1940 which requires certain foreign nationals to register with the US government and always carry proof of their registration. There are penalties for violating these requirements, and there is a new form to use for such registration.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries

Does the First Amendment protect associations’ communications with their members when petitioning government agencies?

On April 28, the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the long anticipated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the January 16 Information and Communication Technology and Services (ICTS) Rule that prohibits the import and sale of connected vehicles and their related hardware/software with a sufficient Chinese or Russian nexus (“Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles.”)

In refusing registration of the color green for “chloroprene medical examination gloves,” the Federal Circuit adopted — for the first time — a legal test for genericness of color marks.

National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Terrell Owens recently filed a lawsuit in Illinois state court against TMZ, accusing the news and media company of unauthorized use of his trademark, GETCHA POPCORN READY.

The Illinois Commerce Commission staff (ICC Staff) announced recommendations laying the groundwater for Illinois’ first procurement of energy storage resources expected to occur this summer.

While we have previously written on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement of “Made in America” claims, a recent jury verdict shows that manufacturers should also be wary of potential consumer claims.

There are currently six states with active Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) — Colorado, Maryland, Washington, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Minnesota.

Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries