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Japan (and Slovenia) Become "Qualifying Countries"

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 08.05.16

To implement recently executed reciprocal defense procurement agreements with Japan and Slovenia, DoD on August 2 issued a final rule adding both countries to the list of 23 other “qualifying countries.” This designation will open DoD procurements to products from these countries, allow U.S. defense contractors to incorporate manufactured components from those countries into their end products as if they were U.S. manufactured components, and obviate specialty metal restrictions regarding those countries and their end products and components.

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.22.26

FCPA and National Security Objectives Align: DOJ Announces First Settlement Related to Bribes That Benefited Mexican Cartels

On July 17, 2026, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with The Scoular Company (Scoular), an agricultural supply chain company based in Omaha, Nebraska, to resolve allegations that Scoular relied on customs brokers to bribe Mexican government officials to allow Scoular goods to pass customs inspections and be delivered to Mexico from the United States. As part of its resolution, Scoular agreed to pay a $9,769,521 criminal penalty and forfeit an additional $414,351. Scoular also committed to continue cooperating with DOJ on any ongoing or future criminal investigations, implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent and detect violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and periodically report to DOJ on remediation and implementation of compliance measures throughout the term of the DPA....