How in-house counsel are finding risks before tariffs, recalls, and export bans turn them into a liability.

In early 2026, tariffs were struck down, a plant fire cost an automaker $2 billion, the government moved toward equity stakes in funded companies, and China cut off exports to named US firms. Every event hit contracts signed before it happened — and changed what those contracts could cost.

This report maps the five blind spots: tariffs, supplier failure, public funding, recalls, and export controls. It covers where the exposure sits, which clauses to check, and the one question to answer now.