On July 1, 2026, the United States government chose not to renew the USMCA trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada for another 16-year term. The USMCA Free Trade Commission, composed of representatives from all three nations, was required to conduct a joint review, but the US declined to extend the agreement in its current form past 2036.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has raised the mandatory Saudization rate for engineering professions in the private sector to 30%, effective June 30, 2026. The requirement applies to establishments employing five or more workers in the affected professions.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a determination expanding its waiver authority to expedite border barrier construction in Texas's Big Bend Sector. The notice amends a February 17, 2026 determination and waives additional legal requirements to facilitate rapid construction activities.
Saudi Arabia's cabinet has approved a zoning-based framework for foreign real estate ownership, replacing case-by-case approvals with defined zones in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the holy cities. Makkah and Madinah zones are restricted to Muslim buyers only.
Under Malaysia's new Expatriate Employment Policy effective June 1, 2026, MDEC and ESD-registered companies must submit a formal Succession Planning declaration starting January 1, 2027. The requirement is being phased in to allow companies time to prepare.
The EU has reached a deal to overhaul air passenger rights, maintaining 3-hour delay compensation payouts and introducing new transparency requirements for hand baggage fees. The reform is also intended to make claims easier to process.
Uganda's National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) began registering foreign nationals on June 10, 2026, under the Registration of Persons Act. The requirement applies to all foreign nationals lawfully resident in Uganda, excluding those visiting for 90 days or fewer.
South Africa's Employment Services Amendment Bill would require employers to verify that no suitably qualified South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees, or asylum seekers are available before recruiting foreign workers. The bill also proposes stronger enforcement measures and penalties for non-compliance.
Senate Republicans passed the Secure America Act (S.2) on June 5, 2026, sending the bill to the White House. The legislation allocates $69.5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice for immigration enforcement funding.