Category: Article Library

Section 301

USTR Extends Certain Section 301 Exclusions for One Year – Is Your Exclusion Still Valid?

By: Brandon French, Senior Associate, Braumiller Law Group

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) recently released a list of Section 301 exclusions that would be extended through May 31, 2025. Within the Notice, the USTR explained that extending these exclusions will support efforts to shift sourcing out of China, or provide additional time where, despite efforts to source products from alternative sources, availability of the product outside of China remains limited.

Read More »
FDI in Mexico

Overcoming Obstacles: Challenges Faced by China’s FDI in Mexico

By: Kerry Wang, Senior Associate, Braumiller Law Group

China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico has seen substantial growth in recent years, reflecting a strategic alignment with global economic shifts and regional trade dynamics. This trend positions China as one of the fastest-growing sources of foreign investment in Mexico, with the majority of investments flowing into the manufacturing sector.

Read More »
Digital assets

Recent Developments in Digital Assets Policy

By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel and Justin Holbein

Digital assets, including blockchain and cryptocurrency protocols and companies, have been in a defensive posture for much of 2022, 2023 and 2024. The collapse of crypto exchange FTX and numerous enforcement actions taken by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have forced the sector to retrench and upgrade their abilities to meet the higher standards of securities laws.

Read More »
foreign direct investment

Foreign Direct Investment Trends in 2024

By: Victoria Holmes, Braumiller Law Group
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a driving force behind global economic growth and development, acting as a lifeline of funding for nations around the world. Imagine a company from one corner of the globe setting up shop or acquiring a business in another – that’s FDI in action.

Read More »
FDI in Mexico

机遇与挑战:中国企业赴墨西哥投资

作者: 王烨, 资深律师, Braumiller 律师事务所

中国在墨西哥的外国直接投资 (FDI) 近年来显着增长,这反映了中国与全球经济格局转变和区域贸易动态的战略性协调。这一趋势使中国成为墨西哥增长最快的外国投资来源国之一,其中大部分投资流向制造业。

Read More »
Uyghur Forced Labor

Forced Labor Questionnaires: Another Helpful Hint

By: Adrienne Braumiller, Partner & Founder and Gavin Andersen, Trade Advisor

In February 2024, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began taking a new approach to Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) enforcement—questionnaires. Once again, the solar industry is among the first targets, vanguards among importers, hacking their way through new regulatory growth, hopefully exposing a clear way through for all who follow. Active enforcement mechanisms like questionnaires—and the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) itself—are still evolving.

Read More »
bis reight forwarders

BIS Updates Freight Forwarder Guidance And Best Practices

By: Adrienne Braumiller, Founder of Braumiller Law Group

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently published a guidance document on its new website aimed at helping freight forwarders and exporters uphold compliance with U.S. export controls and regulatory requirements. The document emphasizes the significant role that freight forwarders play in securing the global supply chain and preventing the proliferation of illegal exports.

Read More »
De Minimis

De Minimis An Ever-Growing Problem of De Maximus Proportion

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

De minimis is a term that refers to a threshold below which certain goods are exempt from import duties or taxes. However, in the landscape of international trade, it has become a contentious issue for the United States. Those “bad actors”, and even some, not so bad, but willing to take advantage of a loophole have found a way around the tariffs. This so-called loophole of allowing goods with a fair retail value of $800 or less to enter the U.S. without paying an import tariff has become a monster that Customs needs to find a way to deal with conclusively.

Read More »
IMMEX Customs

The Importance of Pedimento Codes for the IMMEX Customs Regime

By: Brenda Cordova, Mexico Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

In Mexico, a customs regime is the destination or treatment for goods subject to customs control in accordance with the nature and purposes of a customs operation. Companies with an IMMEX program may perform operations under the so-called customs regime of “temporary importation for elaboration, transformation or repair under a maquila program”. This name by itself implies several facts to consider.

Read More »
ctpat supply chain hero

The Unsung Hero of Trade: Why CTPAT Matters

By: Judy Davis, Braumiller Consulting Group
In the ever-changing world of trade, where predicting the future is a constant challenge, looking back at the past decade offers valuable insights into the evolution of the supply chain and the tools that have developed to contribute to efficiency and security.

Read More »
Legal Norms Artificial Intelligence

Evolving Legal Norms for Artificial Intelligence  in the European Union and the United States

By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel and Justin Holbein

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic for the last 2-3 years for politicians, technologists, and many people in civil societies globally. The use of the technology has obvious benefits for increasing productivity and value produced by businesses and organizations, along with dangers from misuse, such as deep fake propaganda and serious security risks. Two recent efforts to develop legislation addressing AI technology offer an opportunity to compare and contrast the differing approaches in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

Read More »
aluminum extrusions investigation

Aluminum Extrusions II – Scope Modifications Proposed, Dept. of Commerce Questioning Manageability

By Paul Fudacz, Partner, Braumiller Law Group

Since the last update on the AD / CVD aluminum extrusions investigation (dubbed Extrusions II) in what appears to be a response to strong opposition from trade industry groups, legislators, governments, and other interested parties, as well as dubious signals from the Department of Commerce, (Commerce) the Petitioners in the ongoing Aluminum Extrusions investigation have proposed modifications to the scope of the investigation.

Read More »
Trade and Food Security

The Nexus of Trade and Food Security Amid Global Conflicts

By: Victoria Holmes, Braumiller Law Group
The intricate interplay between trade and food security has emerged as a vital global issue, one that is closely interwoven with the tapestry of international conflicts and political instability. Remember the 2019 pandemic when toilet paper supply chains were interrupted?  Now imagine that on a much larger scale with basic food staples like rice, wheat or corn.

Read More »
IMMEX Customs

La importancia de las Claves de Pedimento en el Régimen Aduanero de las IMMEX

Por: Brenda Cordova, Mexico Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

En México, un régimen aduanero es el destino o tratamiento que se da a los bienes objeto de control aduanero de conformidad con la naturaleza y propósitos de una operación aduanera. Las empresas con un programa IMMEX pueden realizar operaciones al amparo del régimen aduanero llamado “importación temporal para elaboración, transformación o reparación en programas de maquila”.

Read More »
Voluntary Self-Disclosures

BIS Unveils Enhanced Voluntary Self Disclosure Protocols

By: Adrienne Braumiller, Founder of Braumiller Law Group

On January 16, 2024, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Matthew Axelrod, disclosed significant enhancements to the process for Voluntary Self-Disclosures (VSDs) related to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These adjustments are strategically designed to streamline export control compliance for U.S. governmental bodies, the commercial sector, and academic entities.

Read More »
importer of record

Who is the Importer of Record: Security Interests and the Right to Act As IOR

By: Adrienne Braumiller, Partner & Founder and Gavin Andersen, Trade Advisor
Last June (2023), in response to a ruling request from Your Special Delivery Services Specialty Logistics (YSDS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued HQ H324098, clarifying what it means to be an “owner or purchaser” with sufficient financial interest to act as importer of record (IOR).

Read More »
importer registration

Suspensión del Padron de Importadores

Por Brenda Cordova, Mexico Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

Uno de los requisitos más importantes para importar mercancías a México es estar registrado como importador en el registro de importadores mexicanos. Hay 2 tipos de registros para importadores, uno es para importadores generales (Padrón de Importadores) y el otro es para importadores de sectores industriales específicos (Padrón de Importadores de Sectores Específicos) que pueden importar mercancías identificadas por el código arancelario MX (es decir, productos químicos, armas de fuego, puros, calzado, textiles, alcohol, hidrocarburos, siderurgia, automoción, etc.). Generalmente, estos 2 registros son listados con información de personas y entidades autorizadas para importar mercancías a México.

Read More »
importer registration

Suspension of Mexican Importer Registration (Padron de Importadores)

By: Brenda Cordova, Mexico Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

One of the most important requirements for importing goods into Mexico is to be registered as an importer under the Mexican importer’s registry. There are 2 types of registries for importers, one is for general importers (Padron de Importadores), and the other is for importers of specific industry sectors (Padron the Importadores de Sectores Especificos) which may import goods identified by the MX tariff code (i.e. chemical products, firearms, cigars, footwear, textiles, alcohol, hydrocarbons, steel, automotive, etc.). Generally, these 2 registries are lists with information of individuals and entities authorized to bring goods into Mexico.

Read More »