January 2015

Originally published by the California Fashion Association in January 2015

Authored by Howard D. Shapiro and David S. Rugendor, Edited by Susan Kohn Ross

On November 20-21, 2014 President Obama announced “executive action” on immigration policy. These proposals were instantaneously controversial; businesses are left to ask – what does all of this mean to our

Originally published in the October 2014 Journal of Commerce on-line

When have you done enough? Based on a recent exchange in a LinkedIn discussion group, there is real disagreement. Despite that lack of concurrence, two court cases decided in the last few months again drive home the point that proper internal controls are a must.

Originally published in the November 2015 Journal of Commerce on-line

Many trade associations are grappling with declining membership likely contributed to by the absence of pressing issues grabbing industry-wide attention, despite export reform and the ACE roll-out. A quite different phenomenon continues to expand – the criminalization of civil violations. Two recent cases are reminders

Originally published  in the January 2015 Journal of Commerce on-line

Last week, Women in International Trade in Orange County presented a half  day program that featured speakers from Customs and Border Protection, the Food & Drug Administration, Consumer Products Safety Commission and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.  The luncheon speakers were two Assistant United States Attorneys.

In the January 16, 2015 Federal Register, both the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the first revisions to the U.S.’ Cuba economic sanctions. As expected, those changes consisted mostly of expanding existing exceptions or granting general licenses in already well-defined areas. With this round of

In late October 2014, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a guidance message in which it laid down new rules regarding post-importation/post-entry claims for duty preference  and duty reduction programs – see http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CSMS%20message_Post%20entry%20preference%20claims.pdf for the exact text. Specifically, CBP decided unless the program under which the duty free claim is being made specifically contains a