International Trade & Commerce
Our Expertise
We assist clients in crafting and maintaining import compliance programs designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays and mitigate the risk of penalties arising out of regulatory lapses. Our team provides guidance on all key issues importers deal with on a daily basis, including: cargo classifications, country of origin determinations and valuationmethodologies, which guidance is designed to increase efficiencies along the supply chain and mitigate tariff exposure. When complex questions arise that need formal guidance from CBP, we craft ruling requests in a manner designed to support our clients’ compliance goals and to provide importers with certainty going forward. When mistakes occur, we assist businesses in submitting voluntary self-disclosures designed to mitigate or relieve the importer from potential penalties that may flow from those mistakes. We zealously represent and defend businesses in the event CBP commences enforcement proceedings against an importer for mistakes alleged to have been made. Further, if a business does not agree with decisions taken by CBP relating to a business’s imports, we will file protests on the importer’s behalf to reverse those decisions.
On exports, we classify goods, software, and technology under the Export Administration Regulations overseen by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and advise on licensing for dual use items. We counsel on sanctions and embargoes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and manage matters governed by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARS). When mistakes occur, we prepare and submit voluntary self-disclosures to or defend enforcement proceedings by BIS, DDTC, or OFAC. On imports, we assist clients in crafting and maintaining compliance programs designed to reduce the risk of penalties and to reduce duty spend after reviewing the client’s valuation strategies. On exports, we provide guidance on product, software, and technology classifications advise on sanctions exposure, and structure license requests when needed. With regard to the transactional aspect of global trade, we align terms of sale (Incoterms) with insurance and payment instruments so that risk transfer, title, and cash flow are coordinated and uniform. Our team works shoulder-to-shoulder with your freight forwarders, customs brokers, and banks to keep goods flowing and documentation clean. Because the firm integrates international trade with robust maritime and transportation capabilities, clients receive coordinated advice that anticipates disputes before they disrupt your supply chain.
