The Realities of Free Trade -
Many of our basic freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution. Speech, press, assembly, religion: these are all accepted as sacrosanct rights by reasonable people across the political spectrum....more
6/10/2025
/ Economic Growth ,
EU ,
Free Trade Agreements ,
GATT ,
Global Economy ,
Globalization ,
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ,
International Trade ,
NAFTA ,
Popular ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariff Act of 1930 ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Policy ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies
Several fundamental conditions are widely presumed necessary for a country to enjoy the benefits of global trade. One condition is that import activity ought not exceed export activity.1 Put more simply, we must sell more...more
4/11/2025
/ Bitcoin ,
Canada ,
China ,
Executive Orders ,
Exports ,
Importers ,
Imports ,
International Trade ,
Mexico ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Semiconductors ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariff Act of 1930 ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Deficit ,
Trade Representatives ,
Trump Administration ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) joint review process is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026, but the time to prepare is now. Embedded trade compliance professionals should already be doing scenario...more
2/12/2025
/ Brokers ,
China ,
Compliance ,
Customs ,
Export Controls ,
IMMEX ,
Imports ,
International Trade ,
Latin America ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Section 301 ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Agreements ,
Trade Policy ,
Trade Relations ,
Trump Administration ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies ,
USTR
Imagine walking into a room to take an exam that you will likely fail, where the odds of success are stacked, at best, more than 3-to-1 against you? Is it madness to willingly put yourself in that situation? And yet, twice...more
2/11/2025
/ Brokers ,
Compliance ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Export Controls ,
Imports ,
International Trade ,
Licenses ,
Licensing Rules ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
U.S. Customs
Punctuation matters. I’ve always remembered a poster on the wall of a co-worker’s office—this was back in the 80s—that showed baby seals dancing at a disco under a four-word caption: STOP CLUBBING, BABY SEALS. The poster...more
In today’s complex global marketplace, businesses are increasingly confronted with the challenges of supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and fierce competition—all exacerbated by trade remedy tariffs. While many of these...more
12/13/2024
/ America First Trade Policy ,
Anti-Dumping Duty ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Canada ,
Counterfeiting ,
Customs ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Donald Trump ,
Duties ,
EU ,
Executive Authority ,
Fraud ,
Free Trade Agreements ,
Illegal Drugs ,
Immigrants ,
International Trade ,
ITAR ,
MERCOSUR ,
Mexico ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariff Act of 1930 ,
Tariff Classifications ,
Tariffs ,
Trump Administration ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
WTO
This is the first of a three-part series about the USMCA joint review process, focusing on China, Mexico, and competing visions of a “worker-centered” trade policy. Part one introduces the USMCA joint review process and...more
8/13/2024
/ Administrative Agencies ,
Administrative Review ,
BRIC ,
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
CEOs ,
CFOs ,
Chevron Deference ,
China ,
Commercial Contracts ,
Court of International Trade ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Economic Growth ,
Export Controls ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
International Trade ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Judicial Interpretation ,
Oil & Gas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
SCOTUS ,
Section 232 ,
Section 301 ,
Sunset Provisions ,
Supply Chain ,
Texas ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
A fly on the wall at an executive retreat for Acme Super Duper Widget Company overhears the following conversation between Pete, the CFO, and Saira, the General Counsel. Pete: I was speaking with George [the CEO] earlier...more
8/13/2024
/ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
CEOs ,
CFOs ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Culture ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) ,
Duties ,
ECCNs ,
International Trade ,
MOFCOM ,
Section 301 ,
Supply Chain ,
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
Since taking office as the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”), Katherine Tai has prioritized trade policies focused on protecting American workers’ rights and promoting sustainable environmental practices through trade...more
4/11/2022
/ Boycotts ,
Central Bank of Russia ,
China ,
Counterfeit Goods Regulation ,
Country of Origin ,
Customs ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) ,
Forced Labor ,
Foreign Investment ,
IMMEX ,
Imports ,
Labeling ,
Made in the USA ,
Mexico ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Russia ,
SDN List ,
Section 301 ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Relations ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Ukraine ,
US Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) ,
US Trade Policies ,
USTR
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act & The Future of Forced Labor Enforcement -
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”), which takes effect on June 21, 2022, bans the importation of all goods made in the...more
2/10/2022
/ America Competes Act ,
Anti-Dumping Duty ,
China ,
Countervailing Duties ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Imports ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
US Trade Policies ,
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)