Insights on Energy & Cleantech

As President-elect Trump prepares to take office for a second term, his presidency will undoubtedly reshape US international trade policy, impacting US and foreign manufacturing. We can expect that his administration will implement new and increased tariffs. Whether those tariffs come in the form of universal tariffs, tariffs targeted to a few countries, industries or products, or tariffs targeted to certain companies will likely be known once Trump assumes office. The solar industry, particularly solar products originating from China, is expected to be a focus point of potential future tariff measures.

The incoming Trump Administration’s approach to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and tax policies is generating significant interest within the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office on January 20, numerous tariff proposals have already been put forward that could significantly impact the electric vehicle (EV) and battery supply chain industry. Differentiating between the potential for immediate tariff actions and those requiring more time to implement is critical for companies that are in preparation of such actions.

State governments increasingly engage on climate issues. In search of a new source of funding for hundreds of billions of dollars in anticipated climate adaptation costs, a recent New York state law could impose $75 billion of liability on major fossil fuel companies.

In the environmental space, 2024 has been a memorable year with regulatory efforts and court decisions touching on every aspect of environmental and energy regulation, capped out by a closely divided election.

Welcome to the December 2024 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.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the addition of Partner Elizabeth L. Horner to its Government Relations practice in the firm’s Washington, DC, office. Elizabeth previously worked on the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), where she served as Chief Counsel under Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senior Counsel under Chairman John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY).

Michael Showalter and Bradley Rochlen will lead a webinar hosted by the Washington Legal Foundation on December 12, 2024.

In a departure from past jurisprudence, a recent DC Circuit decision questioned whether the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) had the legal authority to issue key regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The decision, which evaluated federal planning related to tourist flights over national parks, interpreted CEQ’s NEPA regulations, which prescribe how federal agencies must comply with NEPA and have set the standards for federal agencies’ consideration of the environmental impacts of major federal actions for decades. The decision could impact how many agencies conduct and interpret environmental assessments in areas including biotechnology and agriculture.

Michael Showalter will join a panel at the Air & Waste Management Association’s Environmental Justice: Policy, Practice, and Progress Conference on December 4, 2024.

Welcome to the November 2024 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.

The United States awoke on November 6 to a changed and improbable political landscape. The nation has re-elected Donald J. Trump as President and has given him a US Senate Republican majority and potentially a US House of Representatives Republican majority as well. As fatigued and steadfast local and state election workers continue to sort through ballots, we continue to look to the finalization of tallies for some remaining Senate and House races to determine the nature and size of Congressional majorities.

ArentFox Schiff has been nationally recognized with 35 top rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, which honors firms for professional excellence based on consistently positive ratings from clients and peers.

Join Riyaz Dattu for the OurEnergyPolicy’s Energy Leaders webinar series.

Addressing so-called “environmental justice” (EJ) issues was a major focus for the Biden Administration from the time it took office. But, as we prepare for a new administration, the Biden Administration’s primacy in advancing EJ issues has waned, if not disappeared.

Join Antonio Rivera as he speaks on EV Import Tariffs at the Battery Show North America 2024.

Back in the 1970s, US Congress passed laws that allow private parties to bring citizen suits to enforce federal environmental laws.

Welcome to the September 2024 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.

Come September in a presidential election year, the policy world feels like a “winner take all” scenario with the election’s outcome determining how — or this year whether — we are regulated.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 135 attorneys have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2025, with two attorneys highlighted as “Lawyers of the Year” and 70 attorneys listed as “Ones to Watch.”

Welcome to the August 2024 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.

Join ArentFox Schiff Partners, Bina Joshi and David Loring, as they discuss key takeaways from the “Safe CCS Act” and what it means for the future of carbon dioxide capture, transportation, and sequestration in Illinois.

With terms like “net zero” and “carbon positive” proliferating in marketing jargon across industries, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has recently stepped in to clarify what constitutes a “zero emissions” building.

Since the inception of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), importers globally have started to become acutely aware of potential forced labor risks hidden beneath intricate supply chains.

Welcome to the July 2024 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.