South America: International Law

The U.S. Trade Representative has launched a Section 301 investigation citing Brazilian deforestation as justification for imposing a 25% additional tariff on certain Brazilian products. A former Brazilian diplomat challenges the legitimacy of this environmental argument, questioning whether insufficient enforcement of environmental laws truly constitutes an unfair trade practice.

As the Trump administration imposes a new round of tariffs, Brazil's federal government threatens to invoke the Economic Reciprocity Law, potentially targeting intellectual property rights as a strategic countermeasure. This move could significantly impact American pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and technology companies operating in Brazil, raising questions about the balance between trade retaliation and long-term legal security.

US-designated criminal organizations control Venezuela's mineral-rich Bolívar state, using illicit gold mining to evade sanctions and fund operations. Following Nicholas Maduro's capture, the US and new Venezuelan government are deploying military force and economic reforms to dismantle these networks, but success depends on breaking entrenched corruption while attracting legitimate foreign investment.

The U.S. Trade Representative has launched a Section 301 investigation citing Brazilian deforestation as justification for imposing a 25% additional tariff on certain Brazilian products. A former Brazilian diplomat challenges the legitimacy of this environmental argument, questioning whether insufficient enforcement of environmental laws truly constitutes an unfair trade practice.

Eduardo Hallak, founding partner of Licks Attorneys in Brazil, delivered a comprehensive analysis of Brazil's medical device market structure, regulatory framework, and patent protection system at the 6th IP Forefront Medical Device Forum. The presentation explored strategic pathways for Chinese medical device companies to enter the Brazilian market, including Product Development Partnerships, ANVISA regulatory compliance, and patent portfolio optimization within Latin America's largest healthcare market.

As the Trump administration imposes a new round of tariffs, Brazil's federal government threatens to invoke the Economic Reciprocity Law, potentially targeting intellectual property rights as a strategic countermeasure. This move could significantly impact American pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and technology companies operating in Brazil, raising questions about the balance between trade retaliation and long-term legal security.