Ngosong Fonkem provides companies of all sizes with business-practical representation on all aspects of International Trade Law. His enthusiasm for embracing difficult challenges that others are afraid to take on and his willingness to go where others won’t go has provided him with the opportunity to help his clients navigate unfamiliar business sectors in unfamiliar legal territories.
Last week, I spoke before a group of CEO members of Vistage Worldwide on geopolitical headwinds in the Middle East and their resulting impact on U.S. business operations. I started by giving a brief overview of the current geopolitical environment for companies that operate internationally, with a particular focus on the Houthis efforts to blockade
Buy America/Buy American Navigating the legal intricacies of government contracting can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding the various statutes governing domestic production and procurement. With the rise of initiatives aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing and infrastructure, it’s imperative for government contractors to clearly discern the differences and requirements of the
Political Risks in Emerging Markets Emerging market countries offer tantalizing rewards. High growth rates, untapped resources, and burgeoning middle classes can make for attractive investments. But amidst this allure lies an unpredictable nemesis: political risk. From the abrupt twists of military coups in West Africa to nationalization policies in Latin America, and from regulatory upheavals
Though many large Wisconsin corporations have benefitted from Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) tax savings and other benefits programs for decades, many small and medium-size businesses in Wisconsin (“SME”) still don’t know what FTZs are. In fact, of the twenty-four companies that currently operate out of the three FTZ grantees in Wisconsin, none of these companies
U.S. shippers of electric and hybrid vehicles that do not understand and abide by their IMDG compliance obligations risk severe consequences. U.S. shippers/exporters of new and used electric and hybrid vehicles face complex compliance issues when shipping aboard oceangoing vessels, not least of which is the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (“IMDG Code”). Sometimes, carriers
On April 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement released a report clarifying the DOC’s policy on Voluntary Self-Disclosure (“VSD”) and Disclosures Concerning Others (“DCO”). Addressing first its policy on VSD, the new policy sought to further incentivize the submission of VSDs when industry or academia uncover “significant” possible
IPBA Dubai, Day 1 After a three year Covid-19 induced break, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (“IPBA”) kicked off its (31st) Annual Meeting and Conference in Dubai today. This was the first IPBA in-person event since the outbreak of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, Day 1 session topics followed and refleced the conference theme, “One World: Law
The financial barriers to starting a cargo shipping business are significant and every level of operation requires a significant amount of capital investment. Even assuming you can afford to purchase a seaworthy vessel, entry into the industry is complex due in large part to the varying stakeholders whose functions are essential to operations. For those
