The release of the so-called Panama Papers and the launch of a pilot self-disclosure program for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) have added to the flurry of activity related to the FCPA. The Panama Papers are voluminous set of leaked documents that detail the existence and contents of private offshore accounts. The Securities and Exchange Commission [...]
Both the House and Senate recently passed a bill which modifies the process for enacting miscellaneous trade bills. Notably, the bill revamps the process for considering duty suspension and reductions found in chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS.) The revamped process will involve United States manufacturers submitting petitions to [...]
Although the Cuban embargo is still largely in place, opportunities for businesses and individuals have expanded greatly in Cuba. Most recently, On April 22, 2016, the United States expanded the list of goods and services produced by “independent Cuban entrepreneurs” which may be imported into the United States. The day before, the Office of Foreign [...]
The International Trade Commission (USITC) gave notice announcing the institution of investigations on imports of certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey. The products covered by these investigations include certain carbon and alloy steel hot-rolled or forged flat plate products [...]
For over a decade, CBP has ruled that raw nuts imported into Mexico or Canada, that were then roasted and blanched or salted, qualified for preferential tariff treatment under the NAFTA upon importation into the United States and permitted to be marked accordingly. But, pursuant to CBP’s recent decision, which takes effect May 9, 2016, [...]
In order to settle potential liability for violating US sanctions, a US company has agreed to pay a penalty of $304,706 for dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national had an interest. In 2011, subsidiaries of the U.S. company exported goods and services to support oil and gas prospecting and drilling within the [...]
On February 22, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that a group of importers agreed to pay $3 million to resolve a False Claims Act suit against them. The United States alleged a conspiracy to circumvent an anti-dumping order on small-diameter graphite electrodes from China. They allegedly lied about the size of the electrodes they imported because [...]
The third iteration of the dispute between an Importer (GRK Canada, Ltd.) and the United States regarding imported screws will soon be heard by the Court of International Trade (CIT). In early 2013, the CIT considered arguments concerning two varieties of screws. The parties agreed that both varieties would fall under the same subheading, but [...]
On February 24, 2016 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 41 hoverboards with counterfeit batteries (click here for the press release). The batteries in the recent seizure are alleged to have a counterfeit “Samsung” trademark. The allegedly counterfeit Samsung batteries and others like them have been the objects of ongoing seizure activities by CBP. According to CBP’s website, [...]
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) aims to stop corruption and bribery by making it illegal for individuals and organizations to make payments or provide anything of value to influence foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Violations of this act can involve very complex schemes and involve very large sums [...]