Insights

Los Angeles – March 11, 2019: Crowell & Moring LLP is broadening its ability to help multinational clients navigate global expansion and regulatory compliance in China and the Asia Pacific by adding four international trade and global employment lawyers: partners Nicole J. Simonian and Evan Yee-Fan Chuck, senior counsel Robert Clifton Burns, and counsel Jackson Pai to its Los Angeles and Washington offices. As part of this move, Crowell & Moring International (CMI), the firm’s global policy and regulatory affairs consulting affiliate, is launching an office in Shanghai with seven trade, transactions, and tax professionals to support global businesses facing cross-border transactional, investigative, policy, and regulatory needs.

Regardless of what happens in the U.S. elections on November 5, one theme is clear – protectionist policies in international trade are here to stay. To some extent, the key difference between the trade policies of a Harris administration and a second Trump Administration may be one of degree. Vice President Harris is expected to continue the more cautious, incremental approach to trade policy favored by the Biden Administration. A second Trump administration, on the other hand, is expected to pick up where it left off and aggressively use the trade tools at its disposal to try to reset and renegotiate trade relationships with many of the U.S.’s trading partners—particularly those countries with whom the U.S. has a trade deficit.

On January 12, 2022 the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a federal register notice delaying the effective date of new controls on cybersecurity items and an accompanying new license exception. The rules are now set to take effect on March 7, 2022.

Today, December 6th, is the deadline to file comments on the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) interim final rule introducing export controls over cybersecurity items. The rule was issued on October 21st and broadly speaking covers intrusion software and internet protocol (IP) network communication surveillance that software is “subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR),” i.e., is either exported from the United States or is developed and exported from abroad with more than a minimal percentage of U.S.-origin content.[i]

Celebrating its 93rd Anniversary, World Trade Week Southern California (WTW), an initiative of the L.A. Area Chamber, is the most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country. WTW dedicates itself to educating the business community on the positive aspects of international trade on the local and national economy through educational programs and events. World Trade Week is celebrated throughout the month of May with nearly 30 events that are jumpstarted by the annual WTW Kickoff Breakfast.

Crowell & Moring’s sanctions team provides guidance on the rapidly-changing U.S. sanctions against Russia, including measures against various Russian banks and Russia’s central bank, National Wealth Fund, and Ministry of Finance, and how these new sanctions can arise in syndicated loans and other lending arrangements, and loan trading.

Crowell & Moring International Trade attorneys will discuss the most prominent developments of the last year and the trends we expect to continue into 2022. 

Supply chain disruptions have exacerbated strains and weaknesses in existing trade infrastructure, causing widespread ripple effects throughout the global economy.  From an international trade perspective, companies face real-time pressures to make business decisions that may have complex legal implications going forward.  Our International Trade Team will lead a discussion highlighting current risks companies are encountering, potential legal implications, and strategies to mitigate risks in real-time in this dynamic and changing landscape.