Principal, Navigators Global

CEO & Founder, BT Consulting, LLC

The Munich Security Conference, which runs Friday to Monday, will mark Kamala Harris’s fifth foreign trip as vice president. The White House signaled that Harris would use the appearance in Munich to demonstrate U.S. solidarity with NATO allies and support for Ukraine amid the growing Russian military threat. Richard Fontaine, the CEO of the Center for a New American Security, said the decision to send Harris to the annual conference is “a signal of how seriously they are taking the situation and the transatlantic relationship.” The U.S. has issued increasingly sober warnings about the Russian military buildup along Ukraine’s border. Harris Heads to Munich at Pivotal Moment

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President, Norvell Consulting

Founder & Managing Partner, Gilmore Strategy Group

Partner, West Front Strategies, LLC

An intense confirmation battle over Robert Califf, President Biden’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is poised to come to a head this week. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed cloture on the nomination, paving the way for a vote. Schumer’s decision comes amid an intense behind-the-scenes effort by the White House to shore up Califf’s nomination as conservatives try to galvanize a handful of expected Democratic “no” votes and sink his confirmation. Confirmation Fight Over Biden’s FDA Nominee Comes to a Head

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Co-Founder and Partner, Smash Strategies

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would end forced arbitration for workers who are victims of sexual assault and harassment, one of the most significant changes to employment law in years. The measure passed unanimously by a voice vote after garnering overwhelming bipartisan support in the House earlier in the week. Under the legislation, employers would be prohibited from forcing workers to settle sexual misconduct claims in closed-door arbitration venues that often favor alleged perpetrators. Employees instead would be able to file suit in court with their own legal representation. About 60 million workers in the U.S. are subject to forced arbitration. The bill is now headed to President Biden’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law. Senate Passes Bill to End Forced Arbitration in Sexual Assault, Harassment Cases

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President, Dunne Strategic Solutions LLC

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday it had added 33 Chinese entities to its so-called ‘unverified list’, which requires U.S. exporters to go through more procedures before shipping goods to the entities.The department said it was taking the step as it was unable to verify the legitimacy and reliability of those entities in relation to their use of U.S. exports. The entities included listed companies, universities as well as aerospace and electronics suppliers. China’s commerce ministry hit out at the U.S. decision, saying on Tuesday Washington should correct its “wrongdoings” and the United States should return to the track of cooperation and contribute more to the global economic recovery. U.S. Adds Chinese Entities to Red-Flag Export List, WuXi Bio Shares Plunge

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President, Nauset Global, LLC

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called on the Biden Administration Wednesday to be proactive about shaping global standards for digital trade, saying that if the country doesn’t take the lead in negotiating “digital rules of the road,” the health of the American economy could be compromised. The Chamber released a list of 14 priorities it believes should be front of mind when hammering out an international digital trade agreement to set uniform standards and binding commitments for the international digital economy. Chamber Calls on US To Lead On Digital Trade Agreement

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Partner, Hintze Law PLLC

Founder & CEO, APAC Advisors

Malaysia’s biggest export earners from the glove making and palm oil industries have had their goods blacklisted by the United States over the last two years in response to third-party complaints of human trafficking, exploitation and forced labor endured by migrant workers in plantations and factories across the Southeast Asian nation. “More and more, mid-market private equity firms are adopting ESG policies which attract capital from investors who require the same focus on sustainability from all funds in which they invest,” said Steven Okun, chief executive officer at APAC Advisors, an ESG consultancy based in Singapore working primarily with mid-market private equity firms. “In Malaysia, forced labor will be a material ESG factor for any company that sources goods from there. Foreign investors continue to invest directly in Malaysia, or to source from Malaysian companies, but more and more will only do so after conducting serious due diligence on the employment practices in their supply chain,” Okun added. Migrant Labor Abuse Bouncing Back on Malaysia