- International Trade: Customs – Nationwide*
- International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: The Elite – Nationwide
- International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) – Nationwide
- Partner John B.
BIS Adds and Removes Persons from the Unverified List
On April 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule that added 18 new persons and removed five persons from the Unverified List (UVL).
Of the 18 persons added in the UVL, five are located in China, six are located in Finland, three are located in
President Trump Signs Executive Order Regarding U.S. Defense Trade
On April 9, 2025, President Trump signed and released an Executive Order (EO) to “improve speed and accountability” in the U.S. defense trade system and published an accompanying fact sheet. The EO identifies specific actions for executive branch agencies to take including: (i) reverting back to the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy that President Trump
Biden Administration Updates Policy Guidance for the Implementation of the Missile Technology Control Regime
On January 3, 2025, President Biden issued a National Security Memorandum (NSM) to update policy guidance for the Government of the United States’ implementation of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The NSM directs the relevant executive branch agencies to provide increased flexibility for case-by-case review and facilitate support for certain MTCR Category I military
DDTC Increase in Registration Fee Rates Become Effective
On January 9, 2025, DDTC’s new registration fee rates become effective. This is the first time in fifteen years DDTC has increased the registration fees charged to those who are required to register with DDTC pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act. Pursuant to the final rule amending parts 122 and 129 of the ITAR
Commerce Releases ANPRM to Bolster Drone Supply Chain Security
On January 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting public input on securing the supply chain for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). BIS seeks to address supply chain risks posed by the involvement of foreign adversaries in UAS-related information and communication
DDTC Publishes ITAR Amendments to Implement the AUKUS Exemption
On August 20, 2024, the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published an interim final rule to streamline defense trade between and among Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States in furtherance of the trilateral security partnership (the “AUKUS” partnership). The interim final rule implements the proposed rule DDTC published
BIS and DDTC Amendments Add Nicaragua to EAR Country Group D and ITAR § 126.1
On March 15, 2024, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) amended the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to implement new restrictions on trade with Nicaragua.
BIS’s amendments moved Nicaragua from Country Group B to Country Group D, applying a
BIS Amends EAR to Include Human Rights Protection as a Basis For Adding Entities To the Entity List
On March 28th, BIS issued a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to confirm that protecting human rights worldwide is a basis for adding entities to the Entity List. Additionally, BIS added 11 entities from Burma, China, Nicaragua, and Russia to the Entity List.
As reflected in the decision by the
Customs Ruling of the Week – Classification of Torrefied Wood Pellets
In ruling N326984 (August 2, 2022), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discussed the tariff classification of torrefied wood pellets from Vietnam. The pellets under consideration consist of agglomerated, powdered wood by-products – which include sawdust, sawmill waste, wood manufacturing waste, and tree waste. The powdered wood is agglomerated under heat and pressure. The pelletized material