The recent coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China (COVID-19 as described by the World Health Organization) is increasingly putting a strain on businesses. A number of manufacturing facilities and distributors in China have been shut down, and many companies based in the U.S. have also suspended or limited their operations in China. Companies that may be affected by the outbreak should take proactive steps to mitigate their risks and prepare to address any interruption to their…

New Measures for Rerouting Flights and Passengers from China The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced over the weekend that to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, all flights departing after 5 pm EST on February 2, 2020 from China, and all passengers traveling from China will be routed through one of 11 U.S. airports where they will be required to make first entry and be screened: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois San Francisco…

As concern about coronavirus – the upper-respiratory infection that was first diagnosed in humans in Wuhan, China in late 2019, and has spread to the United States in recent days – grows worldwide, employers face a series of questions regarding the impact the virus will have on the workplace. What Must Employers Do to Maintain a Safe Workplace? U.S.-based employers may have concerns about compliance with workplace safety laws,  including the Occupational Safety and Health…

The Chinese Ministry of Finance (the MOF) issued this week a “Notice on Tariff Adjustment Plan 2020” (the “Notice”) adjusting tariffs for certain products effective January 1, 2020. According to the Notice, China will impose reduced temporary import tariffs, which are lower than the most-favored-nation (MFN) tariffs, on 859 products from all of its trade partners as part of an overall tariff adjustment program. The intent of the move is to “increase imports of products…