South America: Government, Public Sector

O Superior Tribunal de Justiça reviu decisão que permitia reabertura de persecução penal contra réu absolvido, reconhecendo que habeas corpus não pode ser utilizado como instrumento acusatório. A decisão de ofício restabeleceu garantias fundamentais do devido processo legal e reafirmou os limites constitucionais do remédio constitucional voltado à proteção da liberdade.

Brazil's Committee on Industry, Commerce, and Services has issued a favorable opinion on legislation addressing patent ownership for AI-assisted inventions. The proposed amendment to the Brazilian Patent Statute would establish that patent rights for inventions developed with artificial intelligence assistance belong to the individual or legal entity providing the economic or technical means for development, while maintaining that AI systems themselves cannot hold patent rights due to lack of legal personho

The Brazilian House of Representatives is considering legislation that would introduce a Patent Term Adjustment mechanism to compensate patent holders for administrative delays at the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office. The proposed framework establishes specific time limits for examination actions and would extend patent terms by one day for each day of unjustified delay attributable to the Office, with a maximum extension of five years.

Mexico has experienced significant transformation following initiatives undertaken by the Mexican Federal Government during the last two presidential administrations. Through a combination of social programmes and legal and policy reforms, the living conditions of millions have improved. This has occurred without a significant increase in public debt and with federal tax rates remaining largely unchanged.

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella prepares to take office with an ambitious agenda to reverse his predecessor's leftist policies through business-friendly reforms, aggressive security measures, and energy sector expansion. His administration faces significant challenges including legislative opposition, fiscal constraints with a deficit exceeding 6% of GDP, and the complex task of combating sophisticated transnational criminal networks that generate billions in illicit revenue. Market opti

Brazil's Executive Management Committee of the Chamber of Foreign Trade has issued GECEX Resolution No. 938/2026, establishing a 12% export tax rate on crude petroleum oils for a 60-day period following the expiry of Provisional Measure No. 1,340/2026. The resolution addresses the regulatory gap created when the provisional measure failed to be converted into law within the constitutional timeframe, reinstating export tax provisions on products classified under NCM heading 2709.

The United States has expanded its list of Mexican criminal organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, adding the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras to six previously designated cartels. This development significantly impacts compliance and risk management for companies operating in Mexico with U.S. connections, as U.S. law prohibits providing material support to designated organizations and restricts transactions with blocked entities.

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella prepares to take office with an ambitious agenda to reverse his predecessor's leftist policies through business-friendly reforms, aggressive security measures, and energy sector expansion. His administration faces significant challenges including legislative opposition, fiscal constraints with a deficit exceeding 6% of GDP, and the complex task of combating sophisticated transnational criminal networks that generate billions in illicit revenue. Market opti

The Dominican Republic has achieved the lowest homicide rate in the Caribbean for the second consecutive year, with a rate of 8.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025. This marks the fourth year of decline, contrasting sharply with the regional average of 34.0 per 100,000, as documented by InSight Crime's annual security report.

Brazil's National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels has unveiled the largest permanent offer cycles to date, announcing 22 exploration block sectors and 2 marginal accumulation sectors under the concession regime, alongside 13 blocks under the production sharing regime. With public sessions scheduled for October 7, 2026, companies have until August 31, 2026, to submit expressions of interest for participation in these significant oil and gas bidding opportunities.

Colombia has elected Abelardo De La Espriella as President, marking a pronounced shift to the right following the administration of Gustavo Petro. De La Espriella defeated left-wing senator Iván Cepeda in the June 2026 runoff by a narrow margin of less than 1%.

A Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico abriu consulta pública sobre nova norma de revisão tarifária que busca harmonizar procedimentos regulatórios no setor de saneamento. A proposta traz mecanismos inovadores para lidar com impactos da Reforma Tributária, incluindo aplicação provisória de reajustes por inércia regulatória, além de estabelecer tratamento específico para parcerias público-privadas e medidas cautelares