North America: Transport

As the Federal Maritime Commission's adjudicatory workload has quadrupled since 2020, its Office of Administrative Law Judges operates with minimal permanent staff and no dedicated law clerks. With demurrage and detention litigation surging and new enforcement matters on the horizon, the question emerges whether current judicial resources can sustain fair and efficient resolution of increasingly complex shipping disputes.

The Trump Administration's temporary Jones Act waiver, issued in response to the Iran conflict and extended through August 2026, has reignited debate over domestic shipping policy during military operations.

China's detention of Panama-flagged vessels has sparked concerns from the Trump Administration and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), with FMC Chair Laura DiBella warning of potential enforcement actions under the Shipping Act. The Commission possesses significant authority to address unfavorable shipping conditions, including measures that could restrict Chinese-controlled carriers' access to U.S. ports and impose substantial penalties. As these detentions continue to threaten U.S. supply chain interes

In recent years, many small and mid-size Canadian trucking companies received an unwelcome surprise from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS): a letter announcing an IRS audit to determine whether the company owes U.S.

On June 18, 2026, the BIS’s Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services issued GA #3, creating an Approved Supplier Registry under the Connected Vehicles Rule.

The Trump administration has issued new guidance on federal motor vehicle tampering enforcement, aiming to clarify when individuals can legally repair their own vehicles under the Clean Air Act. While framed as expanding "Right to Repair" freedoms, the policy largely reaffirms EPA's longstanding position that repairs with a reasonable basis for not adversely affecting emissions are permissible, though questions remain about state enforcement and onboard diagnostics systems.

The Canada Revenue Agency maintains that aviation fuel delivered into airport storage tanks rather than directly into aircraft is subject to GST/HST, creating significant tax risks for fuel suppliers and airlines.

The Trump Administration has intensified its focus on drone security through coordinated federal actions in July 2026, expediting counter-drone capabilities for state and local governments while simultaneously strengthening prohibitions against foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems. These sweeping regulatory changes mark a significant expansion of national security measures affecting the entire UAS marketplace.

Drones are revolutionizing Canada's energy sector, enabling pipeline inspections, facility monitoring, and environmental assessments at unprecedented scale. As the 2025 amendments to Canadian Aviation Regulations unlock beyond visual line-of-sight operations, energy operators must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of regulatory compliance, privacy obligations, and insurance requirements to harness this transformative technology effectively.