Policy
Understand policy through its effects on companies, markets and operating costs — legislation, agencies, tariffs, competition law, litigation, and what each of them actually costs to comply with.
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Policy
EU delays high-risk AI Act deadlines to December 2027 and August 2028, adds December bans
The EU's Digital Omnibus on AI moves stand-alone high-risk obligations to December 2027 and product-embedded systems to August 2028, and adds new bans from December 2026.
Policy
FTC and USDA open joint inquiry into farm equipment makers and dealers
The FTC and USDA opened a joint public inquiry on October 7, 2026, into farm equipment makers and dealers. Comments are due December 7, 2026.
Policy
IRS Employees Accessed Tax Records of Officials and Business Leaders With Little Oversight
A Treasury Inspector General report found 52 IRS employees made 86 suspicious accesses to high-profile taxpayers' records, exploiting system gaps that let search functions bypass monitoring.
Policy
Fed's new stress-test rules could cut capital volatility in half
Federal Reserve finalizes rules on September 30, 2026 to smooth volatility in bank stress-test capital requirements and add public transparency to model changes.
Policy
Why Republicans Used the CRA to Repeal 16 Biden-Era Rules in 2025
The Congressional Review Act lets a simple majority in Congress strike down recent federal regulations, with a lookback window giving new majorities more time to act.
Policy
Fed opens comment on capital and redemption rules for bank stablecoins
The Fed opens public comment on how banks can issue stablecoins backed by Treasury securities and cash. The rules create a formal pathway to market entry but impose strict operational constraints.
Policy
When Congress Misses September 30, the Antideficiency Act Shuts the Government Down
Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills each year.
Policy
Federal Agencies Must Navigate Public Comments, Cost Reviews Before Writing Business Rules
The Administrative Procedure Act requires agencies to publish proposals, accept public comment, analyze economic effects, navigate White House review, and prepare for court challenges.
Policy
Subscription dark patterns face mounting FTC enforcement despite legal setbacks
The FTC has made deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices a priority through enforcement actions and rule-making, even as courts block key provisions. Here's what companies must do.
Policy
Tariff duty rates start with a 10-digit code, then layer on political choices
Every imported product gets classified by HTS code, which determines its base rate. Then presidents and regulators can add extra tariffs for national security, trade disputes, or other reasons.
Policy
How business investment responds to Federal Reserve monetary policy signals
The Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions and forward guidance set the pace for corporate borrowing and hiring plans.
Policy
How agencies weigh costs and benefits before regulating business
Federal rules costing $100 million or more must clear a cost-benefit test.
Policy
How Washington Turned Canada Tariffs Into Outright Import Bans
Five September 8 proclamations ban some Canadian alcohol, dairy and motorcycle imports outright and widen tariffs on dozens of other goods.
Policy
What's Stalling Congress's Dozen Spending Bills Before December 11
None of the 12 full-year fiscal 2027 spending bills has passed. A fight over defense versus nondefense funding is holding up the Senate.
Policy
Why U.S. companies no longer have to report who owns them
A 2026 Treasury rule permanently killed a federal requirement that millions of companies disclose their owners, ending a fight that ran through Congress, the courts and two administrations.
Helen Sorbara
How a Federal Rule Is Made, and Where It Can Be Stopped
Most of the law businesses actually comply with was written by agencies, not Congress. The process has more openings for influence than is generally understood.
