International Trade

Practice Contacts

International Trade

Taft’s International Trade attorneys have deep experience advising clients across geographies and industries on issues ranging from import/export matters and investigations, to sanctions compliance, to supply chain disputes. We serve companies of all sizes, from the first-time exporter to Fortune 500 companies responsible for managing complex supply chains.

In today’s global business environment, the importance of a good compliance program is critical. Improperly created or implemented compliance programs can lead to needless risk and hefty penalties. Our International Trade team helps clients proactively draft effective compliance programs, which include holistic risk assessments, clear and simple policies and procedures, and adequate training and record-keeping. If an enforcement agency comes knocking, you want to have the right policies in place to protect your business and employees.

International Trade Areas of Focus

Customs compliance.

Tariff classification
Tariff exclusions
Country-of-origin labeling
Appeals of customs penalties

Trade disputes.

Trade-related litigation and litigation avoidance strategies
Supply chain counterfeiting
Grey market disputes

Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Export controls.

ITAR & EAR compliance policies
Commodity jurisdiction applications
Export licenses and technical assistance agreements
Voluntary disclosures of export control violations

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions.

Compliance
License applications
Voluntary disclosures

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance.

Infringement of patents, trademarks and copyrights by foreign companies.

Non-profit international activities.

Registration under China’s foreign NGO law
Sanctions compliance for humanitarian organizations

Global Perspective

Few cross-border disputes are purely legal—instead, most have a combination of legal, cultural and political components. Taft’s multilingual team has the international experience and cross-cultural sensitivity necessary to navigate multilayered disputes and successfully negotiate with foreign parties and government officials. In certain jurisdictions, Taft maintains close relationships with trusted local counsel. Rather than relying on satellite offices with limited staff, this allows us to efficiently put in place the best team of lawyers for your particular matter, hand-picked based on specialization, location and cost. This approach helps Taft provide seamless service to our clients across the globe.