The elimination of strict federal mandates for higher fuel efficiency in new cars crushes momentum for the U.S. auto industry to pivot toward alternative-powered vehicles, ensuring that manufacturers will again be caught in litigation limbo as environmental groups prepare challenges to seemingly inconsequential standards with no penalties, experts say.
Law360
International Trade
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 Law360 iOS App Law360 Android App Follow Law360 on Facebook Follow Law360 on LinkedIn Follow Law360 on Twitter

TOP NEWS

Analysis

NHTSA Fuel Economy Regs Overhaul Crushes EV Ambitions

By Linda Chiem

The elimination of strict federal mandates for higher fuel efficiency in new cars crushes momentum for the U.S. auto industry to pivot toward alternative-powered vehicles, ensuring that manufacturers will again be caught in litigation limbo as environmental groups prepare challenges to seemingly inconsequential standards with no penalties, experts say.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Lululemon Says Shoppers Can't Claim Its Tariff Refunds

By Dylan Moroses

A proposed class action brought by Lululemon shoppers seeking refunds for higher prices paid due to unlawful tariffs should be rejected because the retailer hasn't yet recovered all its paid duties, the company told a Washington federal judge.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Commodities Firm Looks To Nix $22M Soybean Award Suits

By Joyce Hanson

A Swiss commodities firm has asked a Florida federal court to toss litigation filed by a U.S. logistics company to enforce a $22 million arbitral award stemming from a soybean meal purchase dispute, calling the suit improper in light of ongoing litigation in England.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

POLICY & REGULATION

Brief

Chinese, Indian Electrodes Dumped, Commerce Finds

By Jack McLoone

Imports of electrodes used for smelting from India and China are facing possible antidumping duties, the U.S. Department of Commerce said Tuesday, finding they are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

CBP Bars Indonesian Palm Oil With Possible Illicit Labor Ties

By Dylan Moroses

Imported palm oil products from two Indonesian companies will be barred from entering the U.S. because of suspected ties to forced labor, Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

ENFORCEMENT

SEC Says Investors Lost $15M In Crypto, AI Scams

By Jessica Corso

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a pair of lawsuits Tuesday against companies likely controlled by individuals abroad who it says scammed customers out of $15 million involving cryptocurrency trading and fake artificial intelligence-backed bots.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

LEGAL INDUSTRY

3rd Circ. Affirms Thomson Reuters' Westlaw AI Copyright Win

By Ivan Moreno

The Third Circuit on Tuesday upheld Thomson Reuters' victory against Ross Intelligence Inc. in the first U.S. appellate ruling to address whether artificial intelligence training can be fair use of copyrighted material, upholding a Delaware federal court's decision that the startup infringed Westlaw headnotes by using material derived from them to develop an AI-powered legal search tool.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

11th Circ. Won't Pause Sanctions Against Trump In IRS Case

By Jack McLoone

An Eleventh Circuit panel refused Tuesday to pause a district court's sanctions order barring President Donald Trump and others from citing the agreement he made to settle his $10 billion suit against the Internal Revenue Service while they appeal the order.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DC Circ. Weighs Limits On Boasberg's Contempt Inquiry

By Jared Foretek

A top Justice Department official told an en banc D.C. Circuit panel that a district judge should refer former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for contempt over the 2025 deportation flights to El Salvador and move on, saying the judge had no authority to wrap others into his inquiry.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Jack Smith Says He Won't Be Intimidated By Trump Threats

By Courtney Bublé

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified on Tuesday he "will not be silenced" by threats of prosecution by the president or others.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Baker Botts Atty Disputes Inventor's Claim Of Defamation Deal

By Madison Arnold

A Baker Botts LLP patent attorney is pushing back on an inventor's claim that they reached a settlement agreement in the inventor's defamation suit in Florida federal court.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Richards Layton Atty's Chancery Nomination Advanced

By Rose Krebs

A Delaware senate committee Tuesday advanced the nomination for a Richards Layton & Finger PA director to serve as a vice chancellor on the nationally important Chancery Court, with him vowing to continue the court's esteemed legacy for corporate law jurisprudence.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Dark blue promo that reads 2026 Regional Powerhouses dark blue promo that reads 2026 Rising Stars

LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Arnold & Porter

Avyno Law

Baker Botts

Brito PLLC

DLA Piper

Gordon Tilden

Hagens Berman

Honigman LLP

Kennedys Law LLP

Kirkland & Ellis

Matthew G. Miller PC

Pillsbury Winthrop

Richards Layton

Rivero Mestre

SML Avvocati

Sidley Austin

Susman Godfrey

Wachtell Lipton

Whisenand & Turner

White & Case

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

AXT Inc.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation

American Civil Liberties Union

Burke Inc.

Chevron Corp.

Costco Wholesale Corp.

Inter IKEA Systems BV

Meta Platforms Inc.

Natural Resources Defense Council

New York University

Nike Inc.

Starbucks Corp.

Stellantis NV

Thomson Reuters Corp.

Trump Organization Inc.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Internal Revenue Service

International Trade Administration

International Trade Commission

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

U.S. Supreme Court

UK High Court

United Nations