The Federal Trade Commission’s rules governing assertions that a product is “Made in the U.S.” can be confusing. As we’ve discussed on various occasions, that agency has strict standards on when claims of United States origin are permissible. I won’t repeat the Made In/Assembled In and qualified and unqualified claim distinctions here, except to note that they [...]

Maybe you already have one. Or ten. Perhaps you command them with a steady voice – “Alexa?” “Hey, Google!” – or you could be old school and just reach out and actually turn something on or off by hand. Whichever is your style, smart plugs and bulbs have invaded our homes, and they won’t be going away.   iHome SmartPlugs plug into an [...]

Is Trade Compliance the Lone Ranger?  There are companies, surely not yours, where various departments are viewed as spokes around the hub of the trade compliance department. Each department operates as if trade compliance is accomplished “out there somewhere” rather than taking an active part in making sure the company meets its import and/or export [...]

Women in trade | S1: Episode 8 We discovered a new podcast featuring women who work in international trade.  The podcast is only a few episodes into its first season but they have hit the ground running with a lineup of amazing and influential ladies in trade compliance.   The podcast, Women In Trade, is [...]

Where Is Brexit? What Is Brexit?  Over time, the UK has given us many interesting tales – from Camelot to Hogwarts. But there hasn’t been a more mystical story from the UK in decades as the tale of Brexit. If you have left aside the Harry/Meghan saga to keep up with the Brexit (British exit) story, then you must know that [...]

Part 3 of 3: “CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds”   AD/CVD Consequences: Real Live American Disasters  Inflated AD/CVD and high tariffs have real world consequences. One of the hardest-hit industries by high tariffs and AD/CVD besides the steel and aluminum industries is the hardwood industry and those companies who depend upon an inexpensive supply of raw wood and [...]

Part 2 of 3: “CBP Wants YOU! Increased AD/CVD Scrutiny Abounds”   How the Past Defines Today  Thomas Prusa, Professor of Economics at Rutgers University, says that antidumping laws can be traced back to 1916 when the real concern was antitrust law – not allowing large corporations a monopoly in their industries. Both antitrust and antidumping laws were [...]

Why we are Where we are  Honestly, antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) sound more like terms from a dating app than cosponsors of the serious consequences they can bring to American industry. So, just what do these antiquated-sounding terms mean? Swipe right and we’ll take a look at their definitions; but first, let’s catch a [...]

Incoterms® – an abbreviation for International Commercial Terms – are the rules first issued by the International Chamber of Commerce in 1936 as a way of unifying the shipping practices and legal interpretations between those involved in global trade around the world. As international trade has grown over the decades, so have Incoterms® rules evolved to meet the needs of sellers and buyers.   What Are Incoterms®?   Incoterms® rules have [...]

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a state’s body. Vested with the power and authority to issue custom legal rulings. It also deals with other legal decisions that relate to the importation of merchandise.  The rulings enable the international trade community to understand how the CPB will treat a prospective carrier transaction or import. [...]