North America: Strategy

On 9 September 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers published a supplemental proposal to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.1 The supplemental proposal builds on the agencies’ November 2025 proposed rule and responds to the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA, which significantly narrowed the scope of waters subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and established a new framework for determining which waters fall within that jurisdiction.

A New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate advocates for legalizing adult-use cannabis to keep tax revenue in-state, while Nebraska's Supreme Court upholds voter-approved medical marijuana laws and NASDAQ opens its doors to cannabis business listings. International travelers receive a stark reminder about the risks of crossing borders with cannabis products, regardless of home state legality.

The U.S. House passes a bill delaying the federal hemp ban, while a lawsuit challenges Medicare coverage of hemp products and older adults increasingly turn to cannabis for recreation. Plus, marijuana complaints return to the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Effective 20th August 2026, the Government of Bangladesh has enforced the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 (IBA 2026) to bring the service functions such as approvals, registration, import-export, incentives, zones under a unified framework.

Deanna Reitman speaks with Emran Khan, Chief Commercial Officer of GTI Statia, about the critical yet often overlooked infrastructure that powers global energy markets. Khan shares insights on how terminals and storage facilities serve as the "shock absorber" of the energy system, providing flexibility and security during market disruptions while enabling the safe movement of crude oil, refined products, and other commodities worldwide.

TDK Ventures' 100X 2026 conference in Burlingame brought together founders, investors, and corporate leaders to explore the convergence of energy transition and digital innovation...

Plaintiffs' experts in antitrust class actions often employ a two-step econometric method to demonstrate common impact across class members. New research reveals fundamental flaws in this widely-used approach, showing how it systematically produces false positives and identifies class-wide impact even when no actual harm occurred.

The USPTO has released its latest economic impact report on IP-intensive industries, announced a new community engagement office in North Carolina, and issued several administrative updates including relief for Japanese applicants affected by a severe earthquake. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has also designated new precedential and informative decisions addressing obviousness-type double patenting and Markush groupings.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has proposed a rule that would prohibit U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts for...

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction permanently provides immediate expensing for a wide range of depreciable property and Canadian development expenses, dramatically expanding the scope beyond the previously announced Productivity Super Deduction. The measure aims to reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%, positioning it as the lowest among major economies and less than half the U.S. rate.

A New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate advocates for legalizing adult-use cannabis to keep tax revenue in-state, while Nebraska's Supreme Court upholds voter-approved medical marijuana laws and NASDAQ opens its doors to cannabis business listings. International travelers receive a stark reminder about the risks of crossing borders with cannabis products, regardless of home state legality.

President Trump's executive order directs multiple federal agencies to comprehensively review policies affecting American cattle ranchers, including potential wolf delisting under the Endangered Species Act and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. The order aims to develop actionable recommendations to enhance rancher profitability and expand market access for domestic beef producers.