Dan Harris is a founding member of Harris Sliwoski, an international law firm where he mostly represents companies doing business in emerging market countries. Most of his time is spent helping American and European companies navigate foreign countries by working with the international lawyers at his firm in setting up companies overseas (WFOEs, Subsidiaries, Rep Offices and Joint Ventures), drafting international contracts, protecting IP, and overseeing M&A transactions.
In addition, Dan writes and speaks extensively on international law, with a focus on protecting foreign businesses in their overseas operations. He is also a prolific and widely-followed blogger, writing as the co-author of the award-winning China Law Blog.
Beyond the 30%: The Real China Tariffs RIGHT NOW Think the China tariff picture is a simple 30%? Think again. The reality for U.S. businesses navigating the complexities of importing reveals a far more expensive and tangled web of duties, often surging beyond 50% While the headlines tout a 30% flat rate as relief, this
How Willful Blindness and DDP Terms Can Trigger U.S. Customs Liability One of our international trade lawyers once had a client who claimed to have shifted its manufacturing operations from China to Vietnam. Given the growing scrutiny from U.S. Customs and the steep penalties for origin fraud, our attorney strongly urged the client to verify
Chinese Supplier Tariff Advice Leads to Customs Fraud and Jail Time This is part one of a two-part series on the growing legal risks U.S. companies face when importing from China. Today, we focus on a mistake we see far too often: U.S. companies taking tariff compliance advice from their Chinese suppliers. What may sound
A Comprehensive China WFOE Shutdown Checklist Part 4 of 4: Shutting Down or Downsizing a China WFOE In Part 1, we explored the strategic decision-making behind exiting China, including how to recognize the red flags that may signal it’s time to leave. Part 2 examined the mechanics of the legal and bureaucratic shutdown process, with
How to Shut Down or Downsize Your China WFOE: Part 3 – IP Protection, Data Compliance, and Reducing Your China Risks In Part 1 of this four-part series, How to Shut Down or Downsize Your China WFOE: A 2025 Four-Part Survival Guide, we addressed the strategic decision-making process that leads companies to consider shutting down
How to Shut Down or Downsize Your China WFOE: Part 2 – Execution, Compliance, and Legal Pitfalls In Part 1 of this four-part series—How to Shut Down or Downsize Your China WFOE: A 2025 Four-Part Survival Guide—we covered how to build your China exit strategy, from deciding between a full shutdown and a strategic downsizing
How to Shut Down or Downsize Your China WFOE: A 2025 Four-Part Survival Guide Foreign companies are exiting China in record numbers as regulatory pressure, rising costs, and geopolitical risks reshape the landscape. Whether you’re planning a full WFOE closure or a strategic downsizing, the stakes are high — and missteps can be costly. This
The Hidden Risks of Unpaid Tariffs Under DDP Many U.S. companies assume that importing under Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms shields them from tariffs. It doesn’t. At our law firm, we’re seeing a sharp rise in cases where buyers thought their overseas seller would handle all duties—only to end up facing unexpected customs bills, seized
U.S.-China Business Risks Are Escalating Is Your Business Prepared for the Ongoing U.S.-China Tensions? For years, American companies believed that strong economic ties with China could shield them from political fallout. This assumption gave businesses a false sense of security, one that has now shattered under the weight of escalating geopolitical tensions. Doing business in
How to structure your international manufacturing agreements the right way can legally lower your U.S. tariff obligations—sometimes by millions. This post breaks down how to do it, what mistakes to avoid, and includes a step-by-step compliance checklist.
