International Trade Law (CLE)

In this LIVE Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals brought together by The Knowledge Group will provide and present an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals as well as recent developments in Trade Challenges and Opportunities Amid the Wide-Ranging Economic Sanctions. Speakers will also present all important issues surrounding this significant topic. Join us for this Knowledge Group Webinar!

In this LIVE Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals brought together by The Knowledge Group will provide and present an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals as well as recent developments in Compliance Guide to OFAC’s Recent Sanctions Regulations.

In this LIVE Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and professionals brought together by The Knowledge Group will provide and present an in-depth analysis of the fundamentals as well as recent developments in Recent CFIUS Developments: Demystifying the Implications to US Foreign Investments. Speakers will also present all important issues surrounding this significant topic. Join us for this Knowledge Group Webinar!

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) remains the avenue for investigating complex intellectual property (IP)-related disputes. Successful representation at the ITC draws heavily on strategic capabilities to handle intricate claims and high-stake investigations.

The continuing US sanctions against Russia are expected to result in consequences that will go beyond the current Russia-and-Ukraine conflict. While the increase in inflation rate is still at the peak of the growing concerns, anxieties over rising gas prices, disrupted supply chains, spillover effects, and other essential areas are contributing to a cloudy outlook for the economy.

There has been an upsurge in antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) petitions in recent years.  Commerce Department and International Trade Commission practice has evolved with this increase in the caseload.  Not only can these duties be very significant, but some of these new developments make it harder for foreign manufacturers and U.S. importers to assess potential AD and CVD risk.

The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly changed the business environment for organizations across the globe and has highlighted the need for business leaders to rethink the way in which their supply chains routes and supporting personnel are managed.

In response to violations committed by U.S. persons as well as foreign organizations, the enforcement efforts of the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have become more extensive. Some of the most significant OFAC enforcement actions this year include Eagle Shipping and Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA) that were both assessed over $1 million civil penalties for their violations.

The year 2019 has seen significant developments in the use of U.S. sanctions and tariffs, as well as in the country’s ongoing trade war with China. The Trump administration has imposed the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions on several countries in 2019 including Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Russia. In the same year, the U.S. revealed the terms of its phase one trade deal with China, which increases China’s purchases of the former’s products and rollbacks U.S. tariffs.

In May 2019, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a framework for OFAC compliance. The core elements of the guidance are aimed at creating a tailored risk-based strategy to ensure sanctions compliance across an organization. It also outlines five components of a compliance program and it includes an appendix identifying the root causes of compliance breakdowns and deficiencies. To mitigate risks, it is imperative for companies to assess the adequacy of their OFAC compliance programs and to tailor them to target risks relevant to the business.

The enforcement and compliance landscapes for antidumping and countervailing duties continue to heighten as the number of cases and petitions filed against foreign importers continues to grow. Key issues include the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) increased number of requests for information and notice of actions to foreign importers, the potential expansion of Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) authority to deter AD/CVD evasion as well as other foreign trade concerns.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has been aggressively enforcing culpable businesses that violate its regulatory policies. As part of these efforts, the framework for OFAC Compliance Commitments was published in May 2019 to define the essential elements of an effective economic sanctions compliance program. Furthermore, stringent enforcement actions continue to take place even amidst the growing implications brought by the pandemic.

Emerging developments have brought sweeping changes to the regulatory landscape of Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) of 2018 and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Recently, FIRRMA extended the scope of CFIUS review on covered transactions – a move which calls for a closer watch on foreign investments, export controls, and national security. Moreover, CFIUS also released its final regulations for mandatory filing process and requirements creating additional issues and challenges for all concerned practitioners.