News & Events

Section 232 Investigation

Trump orders investigation into steel imports: On April 20, 2017, President Trump announced that the Commerce Department, initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, to determine “the effects of steel imports on national security”.  Under Section 232, and other related statutes, the President has broad powers to impose trade [...]

2017-08-15T16:44:43+00:00August 15th, 2017|News & Events|

NAFTA Renegotiation Update

The U.S. Trade Representative released objectives for NAFTA renegotiations, which begin August 16th. The document states that the U.S. hopes to remove barriers to American exports by eliminating “unfair subsidies, market-distorting practices by state-owned enterprises, and burdensome restrictions of intellectual property.” The U.S. also seeks to “modernize” the 1994 agreement for the 21st century. A [...]

2018-04-23T16:17:49+00:00August 15th, 2017|News & Events|

Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance Conference

Our firm would like to invite you to the Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance Conference being held September 20-22, 2017 in Houston, Texas.  The conference covers both basic and advanced topics in import and export compliance.  In addition, the Conference has been approved for CCS and CES credits via the NCBFFA, and will provide for [...]

2017-05-26T21:02:48+00:00May 26th, 2017|News & Events|

Increased Scrutiny of AD/CVD, Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, and Prosecution of Trade Violations

President Trump recently signed an Executive Order titled “Establishing Enhanced Collection and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties and Violations of Trade and Customs Laws.” The Executive Order contains limited specific details, but provides an indication that relevant regulations are likely to be modified and that increased enforcement is imminent.  First, the Order calls on [...]

2018-04-23T16:17:49+00:00May 26th, 2017|News & Events|

Is Merchandise Classified by Use or by Name?

CBP (and the Court of International Trade) regularly distinguishes between provisions in the HTSUS which are controlled by use (“use” provisions) and those that are controlled by name (“eo nomine” provisions).  In Irwin Industrial Tool Company v. United States, the Court of International Trade illustrated this common issue. In Irwin, the importer entered various hand [...]

2017-05-26T20:51:29+00:00May 26th, 2017|News & Events|

Trump Notifies Congress of his Intent to Renegotiate NAFTA

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress that President Trump intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  The notification informs Congress that negotiations will begin as soon as practicable, but no earlier than 90 days from the date of the notice (May 18, 2017).  You can read the notification here.  Although [...]

2018-04-23T16:17:50+00:00May 26th, 2017|News & Events|

Should the Customs Brokerage Function Ever be Moved In-House?

From time to time companies importing ask us whether it is advisable to move their customs brokerage function in-house for the purpose of filing its own entries to save some money.  Our answer is always “NO, don’t do it.” One Importer’s Nightmare One of our clients to be, a Southwest based importer, hired a customs [...]

2018-04-23T16:17:50+00:00March 31st, 2017|Spotlight|

Protest Filer’s Guide

Givens & Johnston’s Protest Filers’ Guide assists importers with challenging various Customs determinations on the entry of merchandise (e.g., tariff classification, NAFTA, value, etc.). This Guide is intended only for educational purposes, and does not constitute legal advice. Please take a moment to send us the information on the form below and [...]

2018-04-23T16:17:50+00:00August 23rd, 2016|Popular Tools|
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