New Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Process for COVID-19-Related Items
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New Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Process for COVID-19-Related Items

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected pretty much every aspect of life in the United States. We can now add trade policy to the list. As part of the Federal government’s efforts to address the spread and treatment of COVID-19, the Trade Representative’s office is considering exclusion of medical care products from the Section 301 tariffs on imports from…

Where Is Brexit?
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Where Is Brexit?

What Is Brexit?  Over time, the UK has given us many interesting tales – from Camelot to Hogwarts. But there hasn’t been a more mystical story from the UK in decades as the tale of Brexit. If you have left aside the Harry/Meghan saga to keep up with the Brexit (British exit) story, then you must know that the United Kingdom (UK) officially severed…

Federal Circuit Defines Country of Origin Requirement for Federal Procurement
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Federal Circuit Defines Country of Origin Requirement for Federal Procurement

Just when I thought I was running out of blog topics, along comes the Federal Circuit to stir the pot for country of origin determinations under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. In Acetris Health, LLC v. United States, the appellate court clarified the circumstances under which an article qualifies as a “U.S.-made end product” qualified for purchase…

Part 3: CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds
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Part 3: CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1582843779409{border-radius: 2px !important;}”]Part 3 of 3: “CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds”   AD/CVD Consequences: Real Live American Disasters  Inflated AD/CVD and high tariffs have real world consequences. One of the hardest-hit industries by high tariffs and AD/CVD besides the steel and aluminum industries is the hardwood industry and those companies who depend upon an inexpensive supply of…

Part 2: CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds
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Part 2: CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds

Part 2 of 3: “CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds”   How the Past Defines Today Thomas Prusa, Professor of Economics at Rutgers University, says that antidumping laws can be traced back to 1916 when the real concern was antitrust law – not allowing large corporations a monopoly in their industries. Both antitrust and antidumping laws were…

CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds 
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CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds 

Why we are Where we are  Honestly, antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) sound more like terms from a dating app than cosponsors of the serious consequences they can bring to American industry. So, just what do these antiquated-sounding terms mean? Swipe right and we’ll take a look at their definitions; but first, let’s catch a…

Why Drawback? Why Now?
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Why Drawback? Why Now?

“Drawback is the refund, reduction or waiver in whole or in part of customs duties assessed or collected upon importation of an article or materials which are subsequently exported”  – U.S. Customs and Border Protection   In the Beginning…  It was the 1780s and everything seemed possible: the Revolutionary War had been won, and there was a central government with a…

FCA: Why We Need Whistleblowers . . . and How to Avoid Them
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FCA: Why We Need Whistleblowers . . . and How to Avoid Them

President Abraham Lincoln had had enough. His troops at the front of the bloody Civil War were ill from rancid food, receiving lame mules and horses, faulty rifles and ammunition, all because of unscrupulous contractors to the U.S. government. As a result, Congress passed the False Claims Act (FCA) on 2 March 1863 which they hoped would provide a remedy for such…

The Catastrophe of a Blind Eye on Trade Violations
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The Catastrophe of a Blind Eye on Trade Violations

Imagine sitting at your desk, doing what you do in your normal trade compliance day. You would no doubt notice if a top supplier were doctoring import documentation. Now imagine if the president of that supplier made an appointment with you, and when he walked into your office, he handed you an envelope filled with large bills. Something would change that day, wouldn’t it? Or would it? [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]That was…

The USMCA: Something New or #JustAnotherNAFTA
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The USMCA: Something New or #JustAnotherNAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) finally got a major overhaul, something campaigned on by President Trump and negotiated in Congress for the past three years. There are a number of significant changes about which American businesses need to be aware. Below we’ll discuss 5 key differences between USMCA and NAFTA.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When NAFTA came into force on January 1, 1994, it was seen as a way to foster economic growth across…

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Incoterms® on Your Terms

Incoterms® – an abbreviation for International Commercial Terms – are the rules first issued by the International Chamber of Commerce in 1936 as a way of unifying the shipping practices and legal interpretations between those involved in global trade around the world. As international trade has grown over the decades, so have Incoterms® rules evolved to meet the needs of sellers and buyers.  What Are Incoterms®?   Incoterms® rules have…