U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Archives | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

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Exporting 101 – Introduction to Export Controls

posted by Jennifer Diaz May 7, 2021 0 comments

On April 30, 2021, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced that it had fined FLIR Systems, Inc. $307,922 for an egregious violation of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) for misrepresentations made in commodity jurisdiction (“CJ”) requests. A BIS spokesperson said: “BIS will not tolerate exporters that provide inaccurate or incomplete representations related to export regulations and laws.”

This recent announcement is a textbook example of why it is important to obtain counsel and be both proactive and truthful in regards to your export compliance. Whether you are new to exporting or looking to understand the foundations of export controls, including a discussion of recent penalty cases like FLIR’s (so they do not happen to you), or a seasoned professional looking to understand the latest developments, this one-hour webinar is a must attend. Register today to hear directly from the following expert duo:

Enforcement Import Pre-compliance Reasonable Care U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

USCIT Invalidates 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Derivatives

posted by Jennifer Diaz April 29, 2021 0 comments

Background on Section 232 Aluminum and Steel Tariffs

Section 232 investigations, administered by the U.S. Commerce Department, are conducted to determine the imports of certain goods on national security. Historically, Section 232 investigations have been conducted regarding U.S. imports of crude oil and petroleum products and uranium, among other critical imports. Under the Trump administration, the Commerce Department initiated investigations of U.S. imports of aluminum and steel on April 27, 2017. The investigation resulted in an affirmative determination that such imports harm U.S. national security. As a result of the investigation’s findings, Trump imposed tariffs on certain U.S. imports of aluminum and steel on national security grounds. An exclusion process was also implemented in which U.S. importers could apply for tariffs to be excluded for certain steel and aluminum product imports.

AD/CVD China Import International Trade U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)Vietnam

New Antidumping Petition Against Imports of Certain Honey Products

posted by Jennifer Diaz April 22, 2021 0 comments

Background on AD/CVD Investigations

Antidumping duty (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) investigations are brought jointly by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“USITC”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”). AD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports of particular goods from specific countries being sold at less than a fair value. Meanwhile, CVD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports that are being unfairly subsidized by their governments. The domestic industry initiating the investigation is known as the petitioner while the foreign industry participating in the investigation is known as the respondent.

Best Practices China EAR Export International Trade U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

Understanding Strategic Trade Authorization

posted by Jennifer Diaz April 20, 2021 0 comments

Co-Authored by Sharath Patil

Background on Export Administration Regulations

Over 95% of the world’s consumers are outside of the United States. Opportunities abound for U.S. companies that export. However, exporting is a privilege and not a right. U.S. exporters have an important responsibility to adhere to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”).

Administered by the U.S. Commerce Department, the EAR is a set of regulations which governs whether U.S. persons may export or transfer goods, software, and technology outside of the United States or to non-U.S. citizens. U.S. exporters have an important responsibility to adhere to the EAR. Violations of the EAR carry hefty civil and criminal penalties. Exporters can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties, lose export privileges, and even be imprisoned.

AD/CVD Best Practices China Enforcement Import International Trade Pre-compliance Reasonable Care U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Anti-Circumvention, EAPA, Dumping Duties & the Spreadability of Cases

posted by Jennifer Diaz April 19, 2021 0 comments

This one-hour webinar will provide an overview of AD/CVD, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s enforcement actions and investigative process, as well as a review of EAPA regulations and provide insights on best practices to protect your company in this contentious area of U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement.

Background on EAPA

The Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 (EAPA) allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to investigate whether a company has evaded anti-dumping and countervailing (AD/CVD) duties in an on-the-record investigation. EAPA enforcement has increased considerably in recent years. In fact, in Fiscal Year 2020, CBP collected $287 million in duties via EAPA enforcement – this is a 500 percent increase since the beginning of the EAPA program in FY 2017.

On April 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM, Jennifer Diaz and David Craven will present a webinar on Anti-Circumvention/EAPA/Dumping Duties & the Spreadability of Cases.

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New AD/CVD Petition Against Imports of Certain Chinese Mobile Access Equipment

posted by Jennifer Diaz March 25, 2021 0 comments

Co-Authored by Sharath Patil

Background on AD/CVD Investigations

China China Trade War Cuba Export FCPA International Trade IRAN Supply Chain U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)venezuela

Commerce Department Issues Rule Securing Digital Supply Chains Against Foreign Adversaries

posted by Jennifer Diaz February 16, 2021 0 comments

NIST Releases Draft Guidance on Internet of Things Device Cybersecurity | NIST

Co-Authored by Sharath Patil

Background on Securing Information Technology & Communications Supply Chains

China China Trade War EAR Export ITAR U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)U.S. Department of State (DOS)U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

BIS Publishes First Military End User List

posted by Jennifer Diaz January 28, 2021 0 comments

In a Final Rule, published on December 23, 2020, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) amended the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) by creating a “Military End User (MEU) List”. The list includes the first tranche of 103 entities consisting of 58 military end-users in China and 45 in Russia. BIS determined that these companies are ‘military end users’ for purposes of the ‘military end user’ control in the EAR that applies to specified items for exports, reexports, or transfers (in-country) to China, Russia, and Venezuela when such items are destined for a prohibited ‘military end user.’

Prior to this final rule, exporters, reexporters, or transferors were responsible for identifying these entities as ‘military end users’ themselves, assuming they were not otherwise individually informed. The MEU List (which is now searchable on the consolidated screening list) allows the public to be informed of BIS’s determination so all potential exporters are informed simultaneously.

AD/CVD Best Practices China China Trade War Customs Expert Import International Business International Law International Trade IPR, Trademarks and Logos U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

U.S. Ends Differential Treatment for Hong Kong

posted by Jennifer Diaz August 19, 2020 3 Comments

On Tuesday, August 11, 2020, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced via Federal Register Notice that all items made in Hong Kong and destined for the U.S. must now indicate “China” as the country of origin.

Hong Kong’s unique political situation as an autonomous city-state initially called for specially tailored laws and regulations governing items imported into the United States. For more than 20 years the US recognized the separation between China and Hong Kong, evidenced by the requirements to distinguish between the two. Additionally, in light of the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation; as well as the regime’s human rights and forced labor abuses, the United States is especially keen on identifying items produced in China.

AD/CVD Export Import International Law International Trade U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

PC WIRE STRAND AVAILABILITY AT RISK

posted by Jennifer Diaz April 20, 2020 1 Comment

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Guest article authored by David Craven, an expert on AD/CVD matters and Martindale-Hubbell A-V rated attorney, who serves Diaz Trade Law clients in an Of Counsel capacity.

Do you use, or are you planning to use PC Wire Strand?

PC Wire Strand is a critical raw material used in the production of pre-stressed concrete. The availability of such a product is now at serious risk, which would make producing pre-stressed concrete difficult and expensive. A trade action has just been filed, seeking to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports from fifteen countries (Argentina, Columbia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates). This investigation is being conducted in parallel by two separate Federal Agencies; The International Trade Commission which decides whether the U.S. industry is being injured by the imports and the U.S. Department of Commerce which decides the amount of any duties.

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