The European Union is attempting to exert extraterritorial regulatory powers on the domestic corporate activity of third-party nations through the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. In short, the CSDDD would attempt to impose EU law and international agreements that the US has not ratified on the domestic corporate activity of US companies if they have EU operations that meet a certain threshold. However, Volume XLVIII staff editor Antonio Videla argues that this attempt is unlikely to succeed because the US will not accept an intrusion of its sovereignty and this attempt likely runs contrary to international law.

The U.S. has announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, mirroring similar measures imposed in 2018 under the first Trump administration. These tariffs previously triggered global trade disputes and retaliatory duties from major economies, including China and the EU. While the WTO ruled against the U.S. tariffs in 2022, it also blocked China’s retaliatory measures. However, with the WTO’s Appellate Body currently paralyzed, appeals remain unresolved, leaving enforcement uncertain.

Volume XLVIII staff member Hsin-Hui Hsu argues that the reintroduction of these tariffs could lead to new WTO challenges, reigniting debates over the role of national security in trade policy. This blog post examines the legal implications of the new tariffs and their potential impact on the WTO system.

The United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA), played a crucial role supporting nation states across the globe in the 2024 record election year. But some major concerns around election integrity arose across these elections. Volume XLVIII staff editor Isabell Creed argues there is a bigger role for the UN DPPA to play in providing electoral support moving forward. This post explores how that role could evolve.