On 21 January 2026, the European Commission (“Commission”) unveiled its landmark proposal for the Digital Networks Act (“DNA Proposal”), an ambitious attempt to overhaul the framework for the regulation and development of electronic communications networks and services across the EU. The Commission’s stated aim with the DNA Proposal is to establish a “modern and simplified
Blog Authors
Latest from Global Policy Watch
UK Business and Human Rights Landscape: 2026 Outlook
When the UK Modern Slavery Act (“MSA”) came into force in 2015, it was hailed as a landmark for supply chain transparency on a key human rights risk. Today, there is widespread recognition among stakeholders that the UK may have fallen behind in its approach to corporate human rights regulation. The MSA’s core corporate-facing provision…
U.S. Commerce Department Revises License Review Policy for Exports of Certain Advanced Computing Commodities to China and Macau
On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued a final rule, titled Revision to License Review Policy for Advanced Computing Commodities (the “BIS Rule”), that implements a more favorable license application review policy for exports from the United States of certain advanced computing commodities, including NVIDIA H200 and…
New York Bans Certain “Stay-or-Pay” Agreements
On December 19, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the “Trapped at Work Act” (the “Act”) (N.Y. Lab. Law §§ 1050–55) to prohibit certain types of so-called “stay-or-pay” agreements that require an employee to repay an employer for certain expenses or compensation if the employee terminates employment within a certain…
Covington’s Guide to Ballot Measures
More than one billion dollars were spent in 2024 elections supporting or opposing state and local ballot measures. With high-profile and contentious issues expected to be on the ballot, such as congressional redistricting, AI regulation, minimum wage increases, and more, that number promises to be even larger in 2026. As state legislatures become more polarized…
The Trump Administration’s Enhanced Use of Executive Orders
By Paul Ray
Companies find themselves in the most dynamic regulatory environment in recent memory. That is due in part to changes President Trump has made to the way the White House interacts with the agencies. By dramatically increasing the number, tempo, and detail of executive orders, Trump has strengthened presidential control of the executive branch. The White…
New Sanctions Authorities in the FY 2026 NDAA
After passing the House the preceding week, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026 NDAA) passed the Senate on December 17 by a vote of 77-20 and was signed into law by President Trump the following day. As is frequently the case, this annual “must pass” defense policy bill includes a…
RESourceEU Action Plan – Strengthening the EU’s Access to Critical Raw Materials
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission adopted the RESourceEU Action Plan, signaling that Europe’s industrial competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to secure and diversify critical raw material (“CRM”) supply chains. For companies, inside and outside the EU, RESourceEU is more than a technical update: it marks a policy shift toward a…
Strengthening EU Economic Security – More of the Same or a New Approach?
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission unveiled the next phase of its economic security agenda. Building on the 2023 Economic Security Strategy and the 2024 European Economic Security Package (see our prior blog), the new communication sets out a more assertive and coordinated approach to managing risks linked to trade, investment, technology and…
New UK Employment Rights Bill
The Employment Rights Bill (“ERB”), first introduced in October 2024 as part of the new Labour government’s “Make Work Pay” initiative (see our previous article on this here), is edging closer to becoming law. Once passed, the ERB will implement radical changes affecting all UK employers for many years to come.
Initially expected to pass…