Mandatory Supply Chain Human Rights Due Diligence in the UK

By Begonia Filgueira, Hannah Laming and Cristina Vela Gonzalez on November 12, 2026 Posted in supply chain

The UK Government has taken a significant step towards mandatory supply chain human rights due diligence.

On 4 November 2026, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, announced that the UK will introduce mandatory human rights due diligence requirements for certain businesses. This marks one of the most substantial developments in responsible business regulation since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

However, this is not the only legislative proposal currently under consideration. A number of overlapping initiatives are progressing through Parliament, creating an increasingly complex compliance landscape for businesses operating in the UK.

While key details remain to be clarified, the direction of travel is unmistakable. Companies should now be reviewing and, where necessary, strengthening their human rights due diligence processes, supply chain risk assessments, governance frameworks, policies and public disclosures.

Squire Patton Boggs Global Supply Chain Radar H1 2026: Legal intelligence for resilient global supply chains

By Victoria Callicott, Simon Jones, Thomas Delille, Peter Sellar, Deborah Polden and Tim Flamank on August 24, 2026 Posted in supply chain

The first half of 2026 has reinforced a fundamental shift in how organisations approach supply chain risk. Rather than responding to isolated disruptions, organisations are redesigning supply chains to withstand a prolonged period of geopolitical uncertainty, economic nationalism and regulatory change.

The UK’s new supply chain strategy: What businesses should be thinking about now

By Victoria Callicott, Paul Jinks and Simon Jones on July 15, 2026 Posted in Legal Analysis, supply chain

Global supply chains continue to face unprecedented pressure from geopolitical instability, trade restrictions, climate-related disruption and increasing regulatory scrutiny. Against that backdrop, the UK Government has published two significant papers that, whilst not creating new legal obligations, provide a valuable insight into how businesses will increasingly be expected to understand, manage and build resilience into their supply chains.

This article summarises the key findings from both publications and explores some of the legal and commercial issues that businesses may wish to consider in light of the Government’s evolving approach to supply chain resilience. For legal, procurement and supply chain professionals, these publications—and the direction of travel they signal—are well worth reading.

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Supply Chain Radar – Quarter 1 2026

By Victoria Callicott, Simon Jones, Thomas Delille, Deborah Polden, Miles Robinson and Laura Hollowood on April 20, 2026 Posted in International, supply chain, Tariffs, Trade

Global supply chains in the first quarter of 2026 are being shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tension, trade policy volatility, and regulatory expansion.

What distinguishes the current environment is not isolated disruption, but the increasing normalisation of multi-layered, overlapping risks – where conflict, tariffs, and compliance obligations interact simultaneously.

For legal teams, supply-chain risk is now firmly embedded as a core business and legal priority.

Force Majeure and Material Adverse Change – A Reminder of the Key Points

By Katie Norris, Laura Hollowood and Michael Davar on March 19, 2026 Posted in International, Negotiations, Trade, Trade policy & Market access, US

The US‑Israeli strikes on Iran and swift regional retaliation has triggered significant instability across global energy and shipping markets. Prices are climbing, key routes are compromised, and one of the world’s most strategically important waterways has faced temporary closure. With such extensive disruption, many businesses are asking an inevitable question: do these events trigger force majeure or material adverse change rights under their contracts?

Force Majeure: The Essentials

Under English law, the term is simply a label for a type of contractual provision designed to address unexpected, disruptive events.

At a Crossroads- Issue #2: Legal Risk as a Tool for Navigating Supply Chain Volatility: Observations from the Semiconductor Industry at the Beginning of 2026

By Squire Patton Boggs on January 23, 2026 Posted in Automotive, supply chain

Please contact: Tim Flamank or Francesco Liberatore with any questions.

Supply chain disruption remains a key risk in the semiconductor industry. Recent events have shown that even beyond high-tech corners of the sector, supply and demand dynamics over critical components, expertise and end products can change quickly and dramatically. The consequences for the automotive industry are potentially stark. In this alert, we consider some current trends in the semiconductor industry and suggest legal best practices arising from these. We show practical ways in which understanding and anticipating the legal risks of disruption can be a game-changer in mitigating its impact.

Export controls affecting key components

Export controls are the (if not one of the most) prominent topic of concern across international semiconductor supply chains at the beginning of 2026. Increasingly muscular government intervention across many major parts of the supply chain—from rare earths and advanced manufacturing machinery all the way through to finished chips—has given rise to disruption and uncertainty. Moreover, export control measures are no longer confined to the most advanced, AI-focused chips, with policies becoming increasingly inconsistent and difficult to predict. Many manufacturers are being forced to consider how government intervention might impact their operations and contractual arrangements.

Waiting for the Supreme Court Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs – What Next?

By Squire Patton Boggs on November 19, 2025 Posted in supply chain

Please contact: Sam B. Ballingrud, D. Michael Kaye, Ludmilla L. Kasulke, Jeremy W. Dutra, Christopher J. Duncan, or Keith Bradley with any questions.

On November 5, 2025, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Learning Resources v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections on President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, and we expect the court will issue a decision by the end of the year. Several justices appeared skeptical that IEEPA allows the President to impose tariffs. Importers should prepare to preserve their rights to obtain refunds if the court’s majority overturns the tariffs.

Read the full insight here.

Preserve Your Rights to Tariff Refunds Now in Light of the Ongoing Supreme Court Tariff Litigation

By Squire Patton Boggs on October 29, 2025 Posted in Uncategorized

Please contact D. Michael Kaye, Jeremy W. Dutra, Keith Bradley, and Anya Bharat Ram with any questions.

On November 5, 2025, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will hear the Trump administration’s appeal of lower court decisions holding the president’s imposition of the “fentanyl” and “reciprocal” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)¹ unlawful.

Given the importance of the issue and that the stay of the lower court decisions has allowed the US to continue collecting IEEPA duties, we expect the court to issue its decision expeditiously, most likely before the end of 2025.

Read the full insight here.

New Podcast Series: Supply Chain Reaction – Navigating the Legal Landscape of Supply Chains

By Squire Patton Boggs on October 23, 2025 Posted in Podcast, supply chain

Our industry experts have come together for our recent podcast series, Supply Chain Reaction, to explore the latest issues facing supply chains worldwide, including risk management, new regulations, supply chain strategy and how to manage different types of contracts. Join our panel of lawyers from a variety of practices as they discuss a specific topic or case study each episode. Episodes include:

Manufacturing Perfect Contracts – In our debut episode, we explore the ins and outs of supply chain contracts. Our team of lawyers discusses and provides guidance on what factors go into a successful contract, what current events are affecting contracts today and key clauses to manage risk.

Sharpening the Stick: Expanding the UFLPA to Fight Unfair Trade and Unethical Imports

By Shawn Harwood and C. Bradford Ellison on August 25, 2025 Posted in supply chain

BACKGROUND

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was enacted on December 23, 2021, and implemented on June 22, 2022. The UFLPA was designed to prevent the importation of goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part with forced labor in China. The multi-agency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) monitors and develops the UFLPA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces its regulations. The UFLPA relies on a rebuttable presumption that any goods, wares, articles, or merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, or produced by an entity on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, were made with forced labor and as such, are prohibited from entering the United States. Since its implementation, CBP has examined more than 16,000 shipments, valued at almost $3.7 billion.