South America: Transport

Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency has opened public consultation on draft regulations for monitoring and verifying CO₂ emissions from domestic flights under the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program. Air operators emitting 10,000 tonnes or more annually will need to comply with escalating emissions reduction targets starting at 1% in 2027 and reaching 10% by 2037, primarily through retiring SAF Sustainability Certificates or alternative compliance mechanisms including lower carbon aviation

Brazil's Permanent Technical Advisory Committee has published a comprehensive package of resolutions establishing the operational framework for the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE), including the creation of specialized working groups and a phased sectoral implementation timeline. The resolutions define critical technical infrastructure spanning financial mechanisms, monitoring and verification protocols, and methodology accreditation processes.

On July 17, 2025, the Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports ("MPOR") opened a public consultation regarding a draft ordinance, establishing the essential clauses of long-term transportation contracts...

Federal agencies have dramatically escalated cabotage enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border through unprecedented data-sharing between FMCSA and CBP, converting what were once administrative infractions into immediate operational shutdowns for cross-border motor carriers. With visa revocations and entry denials now routine for drivers with documented violations, carriers and shippers face a fundamentally transformed compliance landscape that demands immediate operational adjustments.

O Congresso Nacional aprovou a Lei nº 15.485/2026, estabelecendo um regime mais rigoroso de cadastro e responsabilização sobre o piso mínimo do frete rodoviário. A norma exige que a remuneração do TAC-agregado e do TAC-independente observe os pisos mínimos de frete, enquanto o teto da multa cai de R$ 10 milhões para R$ 1 milhão. O veto presidencial manteve intacto o passivo regulatório apurado pela ANTT, tema que deve gerar novos debates no Congresso.

Brazil's Permanent Technical Advisory Committee has published a comprehensive package of resolutions establishing the operational framework for the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE), including the creation of specialized working groups and a phased sectoral implementation timeline. The resolutions define critical technical infrastructure spanning financial mechanisms, monitoring and verification protocols, and methodology accreditation processes.

Unprecedented drought conditions from a historic El Niño event are creating severe transit restrictions at the Panama Canal, forcing vessel owners and charterers to navigate complex legal questions about redelivery obligations and cost allocations. As water levels in Gatun Lake plummet and transit auction prices soar to record-breaking levels, the maritime industry faces critical decisions about legitimate final voyages, alternative routing, and contractual responsibilities under charter party terms.

The new investment plan of up to US$8.5 billion in the Panama Canal opens opportunities in ports, energy, and water infrastructure. However, for foreign capital, the true differentiator does not lie in the amount of spending or the magnitude of the works, but in the institutional safeguards that support the project: the constitutional autonomy of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), its special contracting regime, and the Canal’s permanent neutrality constitute the genuine guarantee of confidence in this new expansion cycle.

El nuevo plan de inversión de hasta US$8.500 millones en el Canal de Panamá abre oportunidades en puertos, energía e infraestructura hídrica. Sin embargo, para el capital extranjero el verdadero diferencial no radica en el volumen del desembolso ni en la magnitud de las obras, sino en el blindaje institucional que sostiene el proyecto: la autonomía constitucional de la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP), su régimen especial de contratación y la neutralidad permanente del Canal constituyen la auténtica garantía de confianza en este nuevo ciclo de expansión.