Cargo Ship

The Red Sea Blockade and Why Political Risk Analysis has Become So Important

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

Unwinding The Buy America/n Provisions Gordian Knot

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

customs trade wisconsin

Foreign Trade Zones for Wisconsin Small Businesses

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

KSL News Radio asks Harris Sliwoski’s Jonathan Bench about China’s Economy

Recently Jonathan Bench spoke with KSL Radio about China’s recent economic problems. In the interview, Jonathan discussed the increasing number of foreign investors reducing their footprint in China. Bench sees Vietnam as among the next rising economies to which international companies will (and should) turn to. Read more here, about why China’s loss is Vietnam’s

An enormous container ship engaged in international trade docked in the ocean.

Shipping Vehicles and The IMDG Code

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

breaking news

Breaking News | Declaratory Statement Obtained

Breaking News | Harris Sliwoski attorneys Robert Kossick and Frederic Rocafort successfully obtained a declaratory statement for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) on behalf of one of the firm’s clients, clarifying a statutory ambiguity regarding tobacco licensing requirements. As a result, our client now has the legal certainty that their planned

US FDA Food registration

United States FDA To Open Up Food Facility Registration Renewal Process

The U.S. FDA is requiring all non-exempt domestic and foreign food facilities to renew their registrations between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2022. The United States FDA, consistent with the Bioterrorism Act’s mandate to take steps to prevent terrorist attacks and/or emergencies involving the food supply of the United States, established regulations requiring the

U.S. customs wants you to maximize compliance and demonstrate "reasonable care."

ACE Non-participation Raises “a Red Flag” for U.S. Customs

The current customs and trade landscape is, for considerations relating to national security, economic competitiveness, unfair/illicit trade, supply chain dynamics, human rights, climate change, and consumer protection, more complex and fraught with risk than ever. This characterization is manifest in the terms and/or requirements of recently introduced legislative initiatives (TFTEA, EAPA, UFLPA, etc.), regional agreements

ContinuingtoputpressureonRussia origingoods

Russia: Tightening the Screws, One Turn of the Screwdriver at a Time

As the war in Ukraine enters its sixth month, the U.S. and its allies continue to look for opportunities to undermine Russia’s ambitions using economic means. While this dynamic has played out primarily in the export realm, import policy is also proving to be a pressure point. A prime example of this involves the Biden