On 18 November 2024, the International Energy Agency (“IEA”) published a detailed 163-page Report titled “Recycling of Critical Minerals: Strategies to Scale Up Recycling and Urban Mining” (the “Report”). The Report emphasizes the importance of recycling in securing the supply of essential minerals – such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earths – which are
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Civil Service Protections in the Trump Administration
At the end of his prior administration, President Trump tried to overhaul the federal workforce by making it easier to remove a substantial number of federal employees. With his incoming administration, President-elect Trump may try to do so again. Though Presidents have broad authority over federal employees, these renewed efforts may face new legal challenges…
Trade Policy Under a Second Trump Administration and Implications for Business
November 25, 2024, Covington Alert
The inauguration of President Trump on January 20 is expected to bring important changes to U.S. trade policy that are likely to affect companies that supply international customers, or are reliant on global supply chains. As discussed in our prior client alert, international trade is expected to be a key…
Republicans Moving to the Middle
The conventional wisdom in recent years has been that the political parties have been moving to their respective left and right extremes. At least for the Republicans, this is wrong. Republicans have been moving left – to the center – enabling them to steal some formerly Democratic voters.
It’s true that Republicans have become more…
U.S. Tech Legislative, Regulatory & Litigation Update – Third Quarter 2024
This quarterly update highlights key legislative, regulatory, and litigation developments in the third quarter of 2024 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”) and connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”). As noted below, some of these developments provide industry with the opportunity for participation and comment.
I. Artificial Intelligence
Federal Legislative Developments
There continued to be strong bipartisan…
Are Recess Appointments Coming Back?
As 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump may be more focused and strategic than he was as the 45th, evidence of which may be a tweet of his from Sunday:
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which…
FDA Seeks Public Input on Process for Human Food Export Certification Lists
On November 8, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice of request for information (RFI) regarding the agency’s current approach to providing export certification in the form of lists (export lists) for human food products. The RFI seeks to learn more about U.S. exporters’ experiences and the challenges they face related to…
501(c)(4) Organizations Could Face Additional Scrutiny Following Court Decision
November 1, 2024, Covington Alert
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court’s denial of tax-exempt status for Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) as an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. The decision could have implications for lobbying, political, and member-related activities…
FDA Advertising and Promotion Enforcement Activities: Update
October 29, 2024, Covington Alert
This e-alert is part of a series of e-alerts summarizing publicly available FDA enforcement letters (i.e., warning letters and untitled letters) relating to the advertising and promotion of prescription drugs, medical devices, and biologics.
During the third quarter of 2024 FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) posted the following three…
The Impact of the U.S. Elections on Trade and International Supply Chains
October 28, 2024, Covington Alert
The upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5 will have important implications for U.S. trade policy that are likely to affect companies reliant on international supply chains. There are important differences in how former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris approach the use of trade tools to advance U.S.…