Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in March 2019

On the trade with China front this week, the news is Huawei Technologies Co, of China sued the U.S. government regarding provisions in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (“NDAA”).  The timing of the lawsuit is drawing interest as

Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in May 2018

The White House website defines the foreign policy of the Trump Administration as follows: “President Trump is bolstering American influence by leading a coalition of strong and independent nations to promote security, prosperity, and peace both within America’s borders and beyond. The promise of a

U.S.A.

On May 8, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) with Iran. Canada was not a party to the JCPOA.  So, the U.S. being in or out of the JCPOA does not affect Canada directly.

That being said, President Trump’s decision has

Canada

Countries, such as North Korea, Iran and Russia, may attempt to hide activities by using cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin). While the underlying activity of selling controlled goods or dealing with designated persons is illegal (under Canadian export laws) without an export permit/ministerial authorization, a secondary issue is enforcement.  Enforcement tools directed at “following the

Canada

On September 24, 2017, President Trump issued “Presidential Proclamation Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats” (the Presidential Proclamation”) which should make Canadian dual-nationals and Canadian permanent residents from Venezuela, Chad (and North Korea, if any) with NEXUS cards nervous. Venezuela, Chad

Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in August 2017.

We are now a few months (almost 7) into Mr. Trump’s Presidency and it is still not clear  – what is the Administration’s trade policy?   The general press is rife with stories about the warring factions within the Administration – those who xenophobically want to

We often receive calls from small and medium sized businesses who receive word from the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) that their to-be exported goods have been detained and that the file has been referred to Global Affairs Canada, Export Controls Division for review against Canada’s export controls and economic sanctions laws.  This happens most

On July 1, 2017, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs posted an order in the Canada Gazette that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Syrian Arab Republic will remain listed as foreign state supporters of terrorism in the Schedule to the Order Establishing a List of Foreign State Supporters of Terrorism.  Pursuant to the State

Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in June 2017

Even in the current environment, there remains massive confusion about what is and is not permitted under U.S. law when it comes to trading with Cuba and Iran.  The President is expected in the next few days to reverse some of the openings created by

On Sunday, March 26, 2017, the Iranian State Agency (IRNA) announced the imposition of sanctions by Iran on 15 American companies.  While the move is widely seen as Iran responding to recent and on-going enforcement action taken in the U.S., such action is certainly creating ever more complex circumstances in the region.

In explaining the