The global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19” or “coronavirus”) outbreak has caused supply chain disruptions to businesses around the world. From delayed production to halted factory operations and slim shipping and freight options, the coronavirus costs keep mounting for businesses facing huge losses. Developing a cogent response to the outbreak can be extremely challenging, given the scale of the crisis and the rate at which it is evolving. Sheppard Mullin has mobilized a task force to…

Global Trade Law Blog

Coming to America…to Wait Out the Coronavirus — Visa & Immigration Considerations

By Greg Berk

March 9, 2020

With the growing concern about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19” or “coronavirus”) some foreign nationals who live outside the U.S. have decided to fly to the U.S. and wait out the crisis. This article discusses the related visa and immigration issues, and what U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires to admit someone into the U.S.…

Global Trade Law Blog

Potential Impact of U.S.-France Trade Tension on U.S. Imports of French Products and Luxury Goods

By Sarah Ben-Moussa, Judith Fiorini & Reid Whitten

February 7, 2020

On December 2, 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that in response to a digital services tax law passed in France, it would be retaliating with stringent tariffs on luxury products coming from France. The potential tariffs could target up to $2.4 billion worth of French imports into the United States, with duties as high as 100%.[1]…

Global Trade Law Blog

From CFIUS, With Love: The FIRRMA Regulations

By Reid Whitten, Lisa Mays & J. Scott Maberry

January 28, 2020

The most pressing question around the new FIRRMA regulations is “Will my transaction be covered?” To provide a bit of guidance on that point, we present an illustration from our upcoming Second Edition of The CFIUS Book due out in March of this year.…

Global Trade Law Blog

Modernizing NAFTA: The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

By Curtis Dombek, Enumale Agada & J. Scott Maberry

January 17, 2020

On January 16, 2020, the United States Senate voted by an overwhelming majority to pass the implementing legislation for the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) after months of tense negotiations with Democrats over revisions to the original agreement which had been signed by all three signatories on November 30, 2018. The USMCA has been touted by its supporters as a comprehensive and modern trade agreement to replace the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). But…

Global Trade Law Blog

UPDATED: China Trade War Scorecard: Keeping Track of Tariffs

By Reid Whitten, Julien Blanquart* & Lisa Mays

January 16, 2020

With round after round of tariffs on Chinese goods, announcements, removals, exclusions, delays, increases and, of course, tweets regarding all of the above, it can be easy to get lost on where, exactly, things stand with respect to Tariffs implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Below we provide a brief overview and reference chart, complete with links to the relevant notices. We will update the chart as the U.S. government adds, removes, or…

Global Trade Law Blog

Where’d You Get Your Tech? New Rules May Allow the U.S. Government to Unwind Your Latest IT Transaction

By Reid Whitten & Julien Blanquart*

December 18, 2019

On November 26, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a proposed rule that could change how you procure IT goods and services. The rule would allow the Commerce Department to review your company’s purchase of information and communications technology and services (ICTS), and to impose mitigation measures or unwind your transaction. Go ahead. Read that again. We’ll wait.…

Global Trade Law Blog

Chasing Huawei: BIS May Change the Rules of the Game to Target One Player

By Reid Whitten & Lisa Mays

December 18, 2019

The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering tightening export controls in two major ways. The changes are aimed at choking off supplies to Huawei, but the move could impact a wide range of commercial transactions for all EAR items and technology exported or reexported to China.…

Global Trade Law Blog

Who’s the Boss? The CFIUS “Control” Definition for Global Venture Capital Funds

By Reid Whitten

November 12, 2019

My VC Fund has U.S. and non-U.S. General Partners, will I need to file CFIUS declarations for every investment I want to make in tech, in infrastructure, or in a company with customers’ personal data? This is a critical question at the fore of concerns for diversified investment funds with foreign-person directors. There are more than a few funds that have non-U.S. General Partners – perhaps posted overseas to scout potential investments abroad, or U.S.…

Global Trade Law Blog

Laundering the Loot: Videogame Developer Valve Ends In-game Key Sales Because of Financial Criminal Activity

By Fatema Merchant & James Gatto

November 12, 2019

game-adventure-hero-loot-vector-id1094363240

Money laundering is no game. Yet, some games have been used for money laundering. That’s what prompted Valve to announce that it would end the online sales of loot box “keys” for its game Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO). As of last week, Valve indicated that CS:GO container keys purchased in-game can no longer leave the purchasing account. Thus, they cannot be sold on the Steam Community Market or traded. Pre-existing CS:GO container keys are unaffected–those…

Global Trade Law Blog

Timely Updates and Analysis on Key International Trade Law Issues

Blog Authors

The Impact of Coronavirus on Supply Chain

Coming to America…to Wait Out the Coronavirus — Visa & Immigration Considerations

Potential Impact of U.S.-France Trade Tension on U.S. Imports of French Products and Luxury Goods

From CFIUS, With Love: The FIRRMA Regulations

Modernizing NAFTA: The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

UPDATED: China Trade War Scorecard: Keeping Track of Tariffs

Where’d You Get Your Tech? New Rules May Allow the U.S. Government to Unwind Your Latest IT Transaction

Chasing Huawei: BIS May Change the Rules of the Game to Target One Player

Who’s the Boss? The CFIUS “Control” Definition for Global Venture Capital Funds

Laundering the Loot: Videogame Developer Valve Ends In-game Key Sales Because of Financial Criminal Activity

Stay Connected

Company

Support

New to the Network