Delivering opportunities for growth

The White House issued a Joint Statement laying out a framework for an “Interim Agreement,” and the President signed an Executive Order, effective Feb. 7, that removes the separate 25 percent duty on imports from India tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil.

In Green v. Perry’s Restaurants Ltd., the federal court in Colorado delivered a significant victory for tipped employees and restaurant workers, ruling that Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille violated federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage laws by improperly distributing tip pool money to employees who worked when the restaurant was closed to customers. The decision clarifies tip pooling regulations and tip credit requirements for restaurants across the country.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, the United States hosted the Inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the U.S. Department of State, convening delegations from 54 countries, as well as the European Commission, representing a broad coalition of allied and partner economies.

Clark Hill’s Global Immigration team provides an overview of the major updates from January 2026 in the Asia-Pacific region.