On March 5, 2025, the European Commission published the Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector. This plan outlines measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and to accelerate the transition to zero-emission mobility in the EU. This plan is the result of the “Strategic Dialogue” that has been taking
Latest from Global Policy Watch
California Senator Introduces AI Safety Bill
On February 27, California State Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) released the text of SB 53, reviving efforts to establish AI safety regulations in a state that is home to both Silicon Valley and the nation’s first comprehensive privacy law. SB 53 proposes a significantly narrower approach compared to Senator Weiner’s Safe & Secure
Blog Post: State Legislatures Consider New Wave of 2025 AI Legislation
Authors: Jennifer Johnson, Jayne Ponder, August Gweon, Analese Bridges
State lawmakers are considering a diverse array of AI legislation, with hundreds of bills introduced in 2025. As described further in this blog post, many of these AI legislative proposals fall into several key categories: (1) comprehensive consumer protection legislation similar to the Colorado AI Act
Brazil’s Digital Policy in 2025: AI, Cloud, Cyber, Data Centers, and Social Media
Executive Summary
- Artificial intelligence (AI), social media, and instant messaging regulation will be a hot topic in Brazil in 2025, with substantial activity in Congress and the Supreme Court.
- Cloud, cybersecurity, data centers, and data privacy are topics that could also see legislative or regulatory action throughout the year at different policymaking stages.
- Technology companies
January 2025 AI Developments – Transitioning to the Trump Administration
This is the first in a new series of Covington blogs on the AI policies, executive orders, and other actions of the new Trump Administration. This blog describes key actions on AI taken by the Trump Administration in January 2025.
Outgoing President Biden Issues Executive Order and Data Center Guidance for AI Infrastructure
Before turning
What President Trump Might Do on Critical Minerals
Barely noticed in the firehose stream of presidential activity since the inauguration was a brief Oval Office mention of cutting a deal with Ukraine for access to its critical minerals. Securing steady access to uranium, the rare earth elements, and other critical minerals is a natural priority for an America First agenda, so President Trump’s
What Does the New European Commission Mean for EU Tech Policy?
The new European Commission, which took office in December 2024, will likely rebalance its policy priorities, putting greater emphasis on competitiveness and innovation and less on risk-prevention and regulation. Over the past five years, the EU adopted several sweeping tech regulations, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the
Brazil Under Lula: The Second Year
Executive Summary
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva concluded his second year with contradicting economic results: high GDP growth and low unemployment combined with rising inflation, high interest rates, and a record devaluation of the Brazilian currency.
- The Lula administration’s strategy put the country’s fiscal framework in peril and left economic policy agenda items unfinished,
The Political ramifications of the UK’s economic travails
Economic Turmoil in the UK
The rate on the 10-year benchmark UK government bond has reached levels last seen in 2008. The rate on the 30-year bond stands at a 27-year high. Today, the Government sold £1 billion of bonds at the most expensive terms since 2004 – albeit with apparently good market demand. Sterling
State aid – Outlook for the European Commission’s 2025-2029 Mandate
On 1 December 2024 the 2025-2029 College of Commissioners took office, led by President Ursula von der Leyen in her second term.
This blog explores what companies can expect from the new European Commission in the field of EU State aid.
Key takeaways
- The Commission will establish a new State aid framework to allow EU