Trump Telegram

VISA UPDATE: IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE H-1B PROCESS

With immediate effect, the Trump administration imposed an administrative fee of US$100,000 at the end of last week for applying for and continuing to reside in the US on an H-1B work visa. H-1B visas are typically applied for by highly educated individuals who, for example, design software at Apple or teach at a university.

Therefore, the new regulation is likely to be of little concern to subsidiaries in the US, as employees sent from Germany usually apply for E or L category visas (these are work permits based on international treaties, investments, or trade). This applies in particular to US companies that have been acquired by German companies as part of an M&A transaction.

REVIEW OF TRUMP REGULATIONS BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

A large number of Trump administration regulations have since been reviewed by the US judiciary and either partially upheld or partially overturned as unlawful. Now that the majority of the import tariffs imposed by Trump have also been declared inadmissible on appeal due to a lack of legal basis (albeit currently still with suspensive effect), the question now is how the US Supreme Court will rule. It remains exciting.

TARIFFS AND TAX PLANS UNDER FIRE – US CASE LAW PUTS THE BRAKES ON TRUMP

The customs duties mandated by presidential decrees are now more frequently encountering resistance from the courts. Tariff decrees (as well as fiscal and social policy decrees) are being declared unconstitutional. Some prominent Republican politicians publicly oppose the administration’s plans to further increase the national debt. There is therefore a question mark over the adoption of the tax laws introduced by Trump (“One big beautiful bill”). Will it come to a constitutional showdown?

TRUMP VS JUSTICE – ESCALATION IN THE SEPARATION OF POWERS

The Trump government’s skirmishes with the American judiciary are becoming more frequent. Temporary injunctions are being ignored, Musk’s DOGE squad is undermining court orders, Trump is threatening to dismiss disagreeable judges, the chairman of the US Supreme Court is reprimanding the White House in no uncertain terms – a constitutional clash is brewing between the executive and judicial branches. What happens next…?

TARIFFS UNDER PRESSURE – US JUDICIARY EXAMINES LAWSUITS AND EXEMPTIONS

What role will the US judiciary play in lawsuits against the tariffs? Will individual industries be exempted from the sanctions? US government circles report that there are 3 motives for tariffs, (i) to offset “unfair” trade policies, (ii) to achieve political goals and (iii) to replenish the treasury – take a deep breath
and wait.