What Is the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA)? The Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 was enacted as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) and became effective in August 2016, this law gives US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to investigate and stop evasion of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imported goods. Its purpose is to protect US…
Ready … Set … Stop! After being active for nearly a month, the new BIS Affiliates Rule is on “pause” until November 9, 2026. The Bureau of Industry and Security has suspended the implementation of the so-called “50% rule” for one year, starting November 10, 2025. This suspension was part of a trade agreement with…
A Noteworthy Conference with Strong Messages There has been a lot of chatter regarding the recent Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) annual Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy, which took place recently in March. This year’s conference was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed export controls…
In all the years of my career, I don’t think I have seen so many articles or news stories on tariffs as I have since Donald Trump won the election in November. Everyone is trying to speculate on what he is going to do and if he will follow through with his promises on increasing…
The U.S. government’s recent decision to increase Section 301 tariffs on certain Chinese imports is a significant development in the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. While aimed at addressing long-standing trade issues, these tariffs also raise concerns for importers who rely on Chinese goods. Understanding Section 301 Tariffs Section 301 of…
Adding to a list of seemingly never-ending problems, the Boeing Company recently agreed to pay a $51 million civil penalty for violating U.S. export regulations, specifically the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Arms Export Control Act (AECA). The company also agreed to remedial compliance measures and entered into a Consent Agreement with the…
Another day. Another restriction against China. Earlier this month, President Biden signed an executive order targeting U.S. investment in certain national security technologies where that investment involves “countries of concern.” Currently, these “countries of concern” are China, Hong Kong and Macau … but mostly, China. On the same day this order was signed, the Treasury…
Was your shipment one of the almost 4,300 to be detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for UFLPA enforcement since last June? If not, great! But don’t get too comfortable, either. UFLPA isn’t going anywhere, and perhaps rightfully so. This isn’t an enforcement deliberately meant to hurt U.S. importers. Instead, it boils down…
Classifying apparel correctly is essential for importers, as it determines the appropriate duties and regulations that apply. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) provides a standardized system for classifying apparel. However, the chapters for apparel are long and can be confusing. # Tip Key Considerations Why It Matters 1 Consider material composition…
When I started my career in trade compliance in 1990, our friends and foes were discussed in terms of “COCOM” – Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls. COCOM was an established group of “western bloc” member states and cooperating countries whose mission was to enact an embargo on “eastern bloc” countries (mainly Russia). During this…