Global Scans · Legal · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Substantive regulatory change is likely to happen in the next decade as a result of the recent U.S. Presidential election, Brexit and efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, increase trade and reduce bureaucracy while legislating for new forms of technological advancement such as robots, driverless cars and drones.

• [New] Congress dropped a 269-page AI bill that could override every state law in America. Build Fast with AI
• [New] Subject to the adoption of the necessary legal acts by European co-legislators, the ECB is preparing for the potential issuance of a digital euro, which will help safeguard Europe's monetary sovereignty in a digital world. European Central Bank
• [New] June could see a new click to cancel rule that would make New York the first municipality in the US with a law on subscriptions that are maddeningly difficult to get out of. The Guardian
• [New] Tariff uncertainty and court challenges intensified importer risk Ongoing legal disputes surrounding U.S. tariff authority created uncertainty around duties, sourcing costs and long-term trade planning for importers and global supply chains. Worldwide Express
• [New] Institute for Supply Management recently warned that ongoing tariff disputes may force companies to revisit duty calculations, sourcing decisions and long-term contracting strategies as legal challenges and policy changes continue evolving throughout 2026. Worldwide Express
• [New] Increasing data privacy regulations and the need to reduce security breaches in rapidly industrializing economies are expected to keep Asia-Pacific's growth momentum as the highest CAGR region during the forecast period. Dimension Market Research
• [New] Spain said it will continue advancing regulations targeting social media platforms and high-risk artificial intelligence systems despite lobbying pressure from technology companies. The AI Policy Newsletter
• [New] Global legal departments can leverage AI and data analytics to identify patterns and risks across their entire operational footprint. Thomson Reuters Law Blog
• [New] 73% of legal departments plan to use advanced technology to automate tasks and reduce costs, yet 45% characterize their pace of technology advancement as slow. Thomson Reuters Law Blog
• [New] As we move further into 2026, global legal departments face an unprecedented convergence of challenges: managing risk across multiple jurisdictions, integrating advanced technology at scale, and proving strategic value to business leadership. Thomson Reuters Law Blog
• [New] A DAO with a treasury below $1 million that makes no external contracts, pays no service providers, and has no US-nexus activity faces modest practical legal risk even without formal structure. VaaSBlock
• [New] A new Polish law will impose a high excise tax, flavour bans, and a whole host of other fresh restrictions on nicotine pouches, driving smokers away from using them to quit cigarettes. New Eastern Europe
• [New] Pittsburgh-based Dollar Energy Fund and its limited-income customers will be the biggest beneficiaries of a $700,000 donation from two competitive retail electric services certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and found by its staff to have violated state marketing laws. The Ohio Society of CPAs
• [New] Longer term, the EU could look to a slew of laws: its never-used anti-coercion instrument; legislation such as the cybersecurity act 2.0 that could stop procurement of certain Chinese products and the industrial accelerator act commonly known as the made in EU law. The Guardian
• [New] European Union: The European Union raised concerns over the rule of law, judicial independence and democratic pluralism in Turkey, an EU membership candidate, stating that opposition parties must be able to operate freely without fear of repression. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
• [New] A formal blockade of Russian ports would create legal and escalation risks. Forbes
• [New] The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA's) £9.1 billion motor finance redress scheme - by total cost the largest consumer compensation programme in British history - is suspended in legal limbo, with a tribunal hearing no earlier than October and a ruling expected in mid-November. The Modern Regulator
• [New] A post-Maduro government could issue a Petro-Bolivar backed by a legal claim on the Orinoco Oil Belt. / Venezuela Planet Banknote
• [New] Crucially, multiple state officials announced they will continue enforcing their own statutes despite federal executive orders, arguing that only courts can suspend state-level requirements State of AI governance regulations in the United States. FifthRow - Autonomous AI Apps for Research, Strategy, C
• [New] Legislation to impose the flawed European Digital Markets Act on U.S. companies is expected to be introduced soon in Congress. Citizens Against Government Waste
• [New] As cyber threats continue to evolve and data privacy regulations become stricter in 2026, businesses must ensure their communication systems include strong security measures such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA. Channel Insider
• [New] Guatemala is moving forward with a Cybersecurity Law (Initiative 6347) and potential alignments with international frameworks like the Budapest Convention, which will increase regulatory certainty and compliance standards. Roza.Pace@trade.gov

Last updated: 09 June 2026