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  1. Our thinking
  2. Navigating Washington: A global perspective
  3. Trump administration
United States

Trump administration

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The November 2024 elections are settled. But hardly anything else in the United States is.

Campaign rhetoric is meeting the realities of governance, where the dynamics of Congress, litigation, and geopolitics come into play. Companies in the US and globally need up-to-the-minute intelligence about new initiatives, shifting legal and regulatory challenges, and changed enforcement priorities. And no understanding of risk in the US is complete without accounting for the unique mix of federal agencies and law enforcement, Congress and its investigative tools, state regulators and attorneys general, and private litigants.

Our strength is organizing the flood of developments and proposing actionable steps companies can take to navigate their distinct circumstances, especially against a global backdrop.

Our latest thinking is below. Please get in touch with your usual Freshfields contact should you want to discuss any of these issues in further detail.

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US developments

US developments

Read all of our developments
Aug 22 2025

Key Themes in Merger Enforcement: Early Termination and Remedies under the Second Trump Administration

Antitrust enforcers in the second Trump administration have already shifted away from several hallmarks of Biden-era merger antitrust...
Aug 18 2025

Recent Developments Provide First Look at FCPA Enforcement Priorities Under the Second Trump Administration

After a temporary “pause” in enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and issuance of revised Guidelines for...
Aug 13 2025

False Claims Enforcement Under the Second Trump Administration

Over halfway through the first year of President Trump’s second term, the Administration has employed a range of legal and regulatory...
Jul 18 2025

Trump Administration: Regulatory Framework for Digital Assets Begins to Emerge as House Sends Stablecoin Legislation to President and Passes Market Infrastructure Bill

After a rocky start to its highly-anticipated “Crypto Week,” the House of Representatives voted 308–122 to adopt the Guiding and...
Jul 11 2025

Termination of US Syrian Sanctions Program and HTS Removed from FTO List

On June 30 and July 7, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14312 permanently revoking US sanctions on Syria by rescinding the...
Jun 24 2025

DOJ Civil Division Prioritizes Illegal DEI

Combatting “illegal” Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) remains a “Day One” priority in Washington. President Trump issued executive...
May 9 2025

AI on the Hill

With tariffs, tax cuts, and court battles center stage in Washington, DC, it’s easy to lose sight of policy debates that capture less...
May 6 2025

Unleashing Competition Through Deregulation?

On May 2, 2025, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a joint letter to the...
Apr 17 2025

Update to Tariff Landscape under President Trump

This post updates our blogpost that described the tariff landscape as of April 2, 2025. On April 9, 2025, President Trump issued an...
Blog
Apr 10 2025

Trump’s tariffs: WTO consultations requested by China, Canada and the European Union

In this briefing, we analyse how China, Canada, and the EU have responded to the tariffs which President Donald Trump has imposed by commencing dispute settlement proceedings before the World Trade Organization (WTO). 

Blog
Apr 3 2025

Navigating the New Trade Landscape under President Trump

Since February 2025, President Trump has taken various executive actions, including the latest Executive Order published on April 2, 2025, imposing a wide array of tariffs on imports into the United States. 

Feb 24 2025

Trump Issues Investment Policy Directive: A Return to Open Investment Policy, Except for China

I. Summary On February 21, 2025, President Trump issued a national security policy memorandum entitled America First Investment Policy...
Feb 20 2025

State Attorneys General Enter the DEI Fray

In the wake of President Trump’s sweeping executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the...
Feb 12 2025

Between two worlds: How US and EU-companies can navigate the tensions between shifting US DEI priorities and the EU sustainability framework

Within the first week of taking office, President Trump issued Executive Orders regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...
Feb 12 2025

Digital Assets Under Trump 2.0: The Emerging View from Capitol Hill

Since President Trump’s second inauguration, few issues in the financial services space have received as much attention in Washington as...
Feb 12 2025

Lights, Cameras, AI Action

Energised by our attendance at the recent Tortoise Responsible AI Forum, Paris AI Action Summit and City & Financial AI Regulation...
Feb 11 2025

The Responsible AI Forum 2025: Companies are facing growing regulatory and litigation risks over the use of AI, and not just from the new laws grabbing the headlines

Freshfields is a Knowledge Partner on the Responsible AI Forum 2025, hosted at Spencer House by Tortoise Media, in partnership with the...
Feb 5 2025

Trump 2.0: Administration’s Approach to Digital Asset Regulation Begins to Take Shape

Barely three weeks into his second term, President Trump has wasted no time signaling plans to deliver on a campaign pledge to make the...
Jan 27 2025

Life sciences – what to watch in 2025

We asked more than 200 Freshfields lawyers – across geographies and practice areas: what are the 1-2 issues top of mind for you and your...
Jan 24 2025

AI Models, Chips, and Data Centers Targeted by Expansive US Export Control Rule

Key Takeaways BIS has imposed new global export licensing requirements on advanced computing integrated circuits and frontier AI model...
Jan 21 2025

Preparing for Political Risk in 2025: Contempt, Coordination, and Congressional Investigations in 2025

The second Trump administration begins with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and a conservative Supreme Court majority....
Jan 21 2025

Freshfields Fintech: Our Predictions for 2025

As we did in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, we have crowdsourced predictions for the year ahead from the Freshfields global fintech team....
Jan 20 2025

FTC and DOJ Issue New Guidelines on Labor-Related Practices

Hot on the heels of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) announcement of a policy statement regarding application of the antitrust laws...
Read all of our developments
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Christine Wilson

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Washington, DC

Andrew Dockham

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Washington, DC

Austin R. Evers

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Beth George

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Featured topic

Navigating Washington: A global perspective

Adapting to the Trump administration in the US and across the world.

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European Union

The 2024 European parliamentary elections have brought significant shifts in the EU's political landscape, with emerging priorities such as strengthening the EU’s role in global climate action. The outcomes of these elections are shaping Europe’s future, influencing its political alliances, regulatory frameworks, and global relationships. 

European Union

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United Kingdom

The July 2024 election delivered a decisive Labour victory. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his team translate their policy platform into government action, companies with operations in the UK will need to stay up to date with the latest developments.

United Kingdom

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German federal election and formation of a new government

The formation of the new federal government by conservatives and social democrats is a pivotal moment.

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