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Latest from Amundsen Davis

U.S. importers should prepare for substantial new tariff exposure following the Trump administration’s imposition of Section 301 forced labor tariffs on imports from 60 countries. The measures affect approximately 99.4 percent of U.S. imports and may result in additional duties, subject to certain exemptions and special tariff treatment.

The tariffs were announced on July 23, 2026, in a presidential memorandum in which the Trump administration stated it would impose tariffs through the Section 301 investigation examining whether foreign

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Continue Reading Trump Administration Imposes New Section 301 Forced Labor Tariffs onImports From 60 Countries

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued much-needed guidance on compensable travel time, one of the more complex areas of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Laid out in two opinion letters, the guidance is particularly relevant for employers with hybrid workforces and field-based employees.

Employers should review their pay practices to ensure they are properly distinguishing between ordinary commuting and compensable work activities.
Is Commute Time Compensable Under the FLSA for Hybrid Employees? (WHD Opinion Letter

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Continue Reading DOL Clarifies When Travel Time Is Compensable Under the FLSA for Hybrid and Field-Based Employees

House Bill 26-1283 (“Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents”), signed by Governor Jared Polis on June 3, 2026, sharply limits when a Colorado employer may demand, keep, or control an employee’s or applicant’s government-issued ID. The new law carries both criminal and civil exposure.

Colorado HB 26-1283 Restricts Employers From Retaining Employee Identification Documents
The new statute (C.R.S. § 8-2-124.5) bars employers and their agents from requiring any employee, applicant, or worker to surrender a government-issued identification document.

There

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Continue Reading New Colorado Law Restricts Employers From Retaining Employee ID DocumentsUnder HB 26-1283

Importers seeking refunds of IEEPA tariffs on finally liquidated entries may need to file suit to secure recovery.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued an order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to begin processing refunds for importers that filed civil lawsuits seeking IEEPA tariff refunds. However, the order does not extend to importers that did not file suit, leaving their eligibility for refunds dependent on either future litigation or the outcome

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Continue Reading IEEPA Tariff Refunds Authorized: What Importers Need to Know

On July 31, 2026, Governor Pritzker signed new legislation greatly expanding the already-broad investigatory powers of the Workplace Rights Bureau in the Attorney General’s Office (“OAG”). Effective January 1, 2027, the law authorizes the OAG to investigate supposed violations of Illinois employment law and creates penalties for employers that do not comply. In essence this signals yet another move by Illinois to dispense with the fundamental due process rights of employers.
How the Illinois Attorney General’s Workplace Rights Bureau…
Continue Reading New Illinois Law Expands Attorney General Powers to Investigate Employers

Missouri Employers Face New Military Leave and Reemployment Obligations Under House Bill 2593

MissouriMissouri employers will soon face expanded military leave and reemployment obligations following Governor Mike Kehoe’s signing of House Bill 2593 on July 9, 2026. The new law goes into effect beginning August 28, 2026, potentially opening up new litigation exposure for noncompliance.Missouri Extends USERRA Reemployment Protections to National Guard MembersThe new protections align Missouri law with federal leave protections. Specifically, the law explicitly grants the same

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Continue Reading Missouri Employers Face New Military Leave and Reemployment Obligations
Under House Bill 2593

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A major Supreme Court decision could reshape how federal workplace agencies operate and how quickly their priorities can change from one administration to the next.

On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court overruled a 91-year-old precedent and held that the president may remove the heads of independent federal agencies at will.

Although Trump v. Slaughter focuses on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), its impact could extend to the agencies employers face every day, including the National Labor Relations

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Continue Reading What the Supreme Court’s Trump v. Slaughter Decision Means for the NLRB,the EEOC, and Employers

Amundsen Davis International Trade Alert

July 21, 2026

On July 20, 2026, President Trump signed three supplementing presidential proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 338 Tariffs), which imposes a 50 percent import tariff on certain products from Canada. The new tariffs will go into effect on August 19, 2026.

Importers should promptly review affected products, evaluate available exemptions, and assess potential cost and supply-chain impacts.
Which Products Are Subject to the New Canada Tariffs?

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Continue Reading Trump Administration to Impose 50% Tariffs on Canadian Imports

On July 15, 2026, the Trump Administration announced a new 25 percent tariff on all imports from Brazil, with certain exemptions under sections 301(b) and 304(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (“Trade Act”). The new tariffs will go into effect on July 22, 2026.

Importers should promptly review affected products, evaluate available exemptions, and assess potential cost and supply-chain impacts. 
Which Products Are Subject to the New Brazil Tariffs?
The new tariffs apply broadly to imports

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Continue Reading Trump Administration to Impose 25% Tariffs on Brazil Imports

Illinois Expands Project Labor Agreement Requirements for Renewable Energy Projects

Illinois’s renewable energy landscape shifted significantly back on January 8, 2026, when Governor Pritzker signed the Illinois Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA). Among its many provisions, one significant change stands out for developers, EPCs, investors, and contractors who perform the underlying construction of green energy projects: a major expansion of project labor agreement (PLA) requirements.

While PLAs have long been required for many utility-scale solar and wind

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Continue Reading Illinois Expands Project Labor Agreement Requirements for Renewable EnergyProjects

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) formally rescinded the federal guidance employers have relied on for nearly 50 years when designing voluntary affirmative action plans under Title VII. In a June 29, 2026 vote, the EEOC voted to rescind the two documents that provide a long-standing roadmap for employers. This move follows the EEOC’s recent National Enforcement Plan (NEP), which signaled that the agency would treat race- and sex-conscious workplace programs as intentional discrimination.

For employers, the practical impact

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Continue Reading EEOC Rescinds Affirmative Action Guidance: What Employers Need to KnowAbout Title VII, DEI Programs, and Compliance Risks

When people think about IP, they often envision tech companies, software developers, and research and development labs—not construction companies. In reality, most companies, including those in construction, manage far more IP than they may realize. From brand identity to proprietary building methods, these assets can be as valuable as cranes, trucks, or tools, and, like any asset, they need protection.

Below are key areas where construction companies should take a closer look at how they manage and protect their

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Continue Reading Why Construction Companies Must Protect Their Intellectual Property Now

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Hiring your first out-of-state employee can introduce a complex web of local and state employment laws that may differ dramatically from those you already follow. From paid leave requirements and pay transparency laws to non-compete restrictions and city-specific ordinances, multi-state employment compliance can quickly become a challenge for unprepared employers.
Hiring an Out-of-State Employee Requires Extra Caution
Stop. Look. Listen.

I remember seeing these safety signs at railroad crossings when I was growing up. Stopping, looking and listening was…
Continue Reading Hiring Your First Out-Of-State Employee? Watch for These Compliance Risks

Plaintiffs’ attorneys use “Reptile Theory” tactics in transportation litigation to push for higher verdicts by appealing to jurors’ primal need for safety, distracting from the relevant facts of the case. They attempt to get witnesses to agree to sweeping absolute statements about safety precautions and broaden motor carriers’ responsibility beyond what state and federal regulations require, thereby portraying motor carriers and their drivers as an inherent risk to public safety. For motor carriers, understanding how these arguments work and

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Continue Reading What Motor Carriers Need to Know About Reptile Theory in Transportation Litigation

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would place strict deadlines for employers and newly certified unions to reach a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The bill, which garnered some bi-partisan support to pass the GOP-led House, would potentially place the terms of such initial collective bargaining agreements in the hands of federal arbitrators, instead of being negotiated to conclusion by the parties.
Current Legal Framework for Initial Union Contracts
Once a union gains recognition as the

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Continue Reading U.S. House Passes Bill to Fast-Track Initial Union Contracts

Employers with operations in Chicago and Cook County should prepare for local minimum wage increases effective July 1, 2026, along with related notice, posting, and compliance obligations. While the Illinois statewide minimum wage remains unchanged, Chicago and Cook County will implement higher local rates that apply based on employer size and location.

Chicago and Cook County Minimum Wage Increases
The city of Chicago is increasing its set minimum wage on July 1, 2026, for employers with four or more

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Continue Reading Chicago and Cook County Minimum Wage Increases Take Effect July 1: EmployerCompliance Updates