They say that change is inevitable and that the only thing constant is change. Most of us do not like change. We like our world to be the way that we are used to and comfortable in, but change is inevitable. The better you are prepared for change, the easier it is to accept and…
We all get stuck in our ways sometimes. Some of us have had the same hair since 1980, others of us can’t let go of that old sweatshirt from high school. Some have trouble embracing the latest fashion trends. Those things can all be overlooked, but your Compliance Manual should always embrace the latest regulations….
In a previous blog, we discussed the concept of “reasonable care” as it applies to your trade compliance program. The focus was how export and import programs dovetail with many other areas of compliance, such as policies and procedures, valuation, Free Trade Agreements, and more. Today, I’d like to switch gears and talk about how…
Within a few short weeks, the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) will release the much-anticipated INCOTERMS 2020 and, as it did in 2010, the publication of the ICC decisions will change the landscape of international trade. As you may remember, the INCOTERMS were reduced from thirteen (13) to eleven (11) with the 2010 revisions. While…
Capital One is famous for its slogan, “What’s in your wallet?” But in the world of trade compliance officers, the pertinent question might be, “What’s in your compliance plan?” Earlier this year, OFAC published “A Framework for Compliance Commitments.” This framework provides direction and insight into what the agency believes are essential elements of a…
According to Treasury Department statistics, during the first six months of 2019, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued nearly $1.3 billion in penalties. That represents 18 settled cases and is an amount which is 17 times greater than all of 2018 (when there were seven settled cases.) The totals for OFAC penalties…
On June 20, 2019, the Department of Justice announced that Walmart and its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary plead guilty and agreed to pay a combined criminal penalty of $137 million to resolve allegations of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). The fines include $728,898 in criminal penalties, $3,694,490 in criminal forfeiture, plus a…
Like many trade compliance professionals, I go out and peruse various trade compliance newsletters, the U.S. government agencies websites, and other media to keep up-to-date on compliance issues. Recently, my attention was caught by a case involving Darling Industries of Tucson, Arizona. A closer look at Empowered Officials On February 28, 2019, the Directorate of…
If you’ve spent any time in trade compliance, you’ve probably come across the term “reasonable care.” But what, exactly, does that mean? The ambiguous nature of this phrase has caused many different interpretations over the years. Let’s review some practical ways to apply this principle to your global trade compliance program. The idea of “reasonable…