Gemini etc:

There are several high-profile moratoriums currently in the news as of late March 2026. Depending on which industry or policy you’re following, here is the latest:

1. WTO E-Commerce Moratorium (Urgent)
   This is the most time-sensitive. The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) long-standing moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is set to expire on March 31, 2026 (or at the end of the 14th Ministerial Conference currently happening in Cameroon).
2. 
   The moratorium, first introduced in 1998, prevents countries from imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions such as software, digital media and other online-delivered goods. While it has been renewed regularly, the current agreement is set to expire by March 31, 2026, unless WTO members reach a new consensus.

• The Conflict: Developed nations (US, EU, Japan) are pushing for a permanent extension to keep digital trade (software, music, streaming) duty-free.
• The Pushback: Developing nations like India, South Africa, and Brazil are resisting, arguing the moratorium deprives them of significant tax revenue and limits their ability to grow domestic digital industries.
• Status: Negotiations are currently “down to the wire” in Yaoundé; without a unanimous agreement by Tuesday, the moratorium could lapse for the first time in decades.

1. AI Data Center Moratorium Act (New)
   On March 25, 2026, Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act.

• The Goal: It proposes a temporary federal halt on the construction and expansion of new AI-specific data centers.
• The Reasoning: The bill cites concerns over massive energy consumption, the impact on local electric bills, and the “existential risk” of unregulated AI development.
• State Level: Similar bills are gaining traction in Michigan, Georgia, and New York, where local grids are struggling to keep up with AI infrastructure demands.

1. Strait of Hormuz Moratorium (Geopolitical)
   On March 19, 2026, a coalition of world leaders (including the UK, France, Germany, and Japan) called for a comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz following a surge in maritime tensions.

• Impact: This is an effort to stabilize global energy prices and ensure safe passage for oil and gas tankers amid regional conflict.

1. Housing & Evictions (Local)
   While there is no federal eviction moratorium, significant activity is happening at the city level:

• Saint Paul, MN: On March 25, the City Council passed an ordinance extending the pre-eviction filing notice to 60 days (up from 30) through the end of 2026.
• Minneapolis, MN: A similar extension was recently passed. Note that officials have clarified these are notice extensions, not a total ban on evictions.

1. Death Penalty Moratoriums

• Israel: The EU recently criticized a new Israeli bill (March 25) that would effectively end the country’s decades-long de facto moratorium on capital punishment for certain offenses.
• United Nations: The UN continues to monitor the “10th Resolution” for a global moratorium on executions, which reached record-high support (130 countries) late last year.