Adams Lee Attorney
"With the proper perspective and actions, international trade law and policy issues can transform a difficult problem into a unique business opportunity."
Contact AdamsAbout Adams
Adams Lee is an accomplished international lawyer with over twenty years of experience in providing strategic legal advice on complex trade and regulatory matters to U.S. and foreign companies, trade associations, and governments. His extensive knowledge covers a broad range of industries, where he has developed strong arguments to advance client interests, effectively managed risks, and created competitive opportunities in both U.S. and global markets.
Widely recognized as one of the top anti-dumping (AD/CVD) defense lawyers in the United States, Adams has a track record of securing significant victories for clients in U.S. Department of Commerce trade remedies proceedings. His strategic advocacy has often resulted in de minimis dumping margins and countervailing duty margins, relieving companies from burdensome trade restrictive orders.
In matters involving administrative reviews under antidumping and countervailing duty orders, Adams is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes. He has successfully helped numerous clients secure revocations of orders, substantially alleviating their regulatory burdens.
Adams has represented companies from China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Germany, and Spain, securing favorable results in antidumping proceedings and defending the interests of both exporters and importers. Known for his pragmatic, no-nonsense approach, Adams is adept at balancing the costs of defense with the stakes involved, ensuring that legal strategies are both cost-effective and impactful.
Top Anti-Dumping (AD/CVD) Attorney
Adams brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to Harris Sliwoski’s international trade practice. He excels in rapidly evaluating strategic options and crafting comprehensive legal strategies that align with the latest policy and case law. Beyond securing significant results in Department of Commerce (DOC) and International Trade Commission (ITC) cases that enhance our clients’ market positions, Adams excels in demystifying complex trade issues, empowering clients to make informed business decisions.
Adams spends his free time exploring all that Seattle and the Northwest have to offer.
Fast Facts
Education
- Harvard University (A.B., cum laude)
- New York University School of Law (J.D.)
Languages
- Chinese
- Taiwanese (Oral Proficiency)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Washington
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US Court of International Trade
- District of Columbia
- New York
More About Adams
- Rolling with the Regulations of Cannabis Trade Laws with Vincent Sliwoski and Adams Lee, Simply Trade Podcast, December 7, 2023.
- Cannabis and International Trade Issues, NCBFAA webinar, December 1, 2022.
- It’s Inflation Proof (Or is it?), Here Weed Go! podcast, August 31, 2022.
- A Fresh Perspective: What the ITC Cucumber and Squash Reports Say, 2022 FPAA’s Spring Policy Summit, Tubac, AZ, March 15, 2022.
- Importing & Exporting Amid A Trade War: Tariffs, Export Controls & Sanctions, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, March 6, 2020.
- The International Cannabis Trade, Harris Sliwoski webinar, March 4, 2020.
- The New Era of Doing Business in the US, Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Madrid, Spain, November 7, 2019.
- The New Era of Doing Business in the US, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona, Spain, November 6, 2019.
- Tariffs and Trade, The Transformer Association, Spring 2019 Meeting, April 24, 2019.
- Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico – Terminated Suspension Agreement, Resumed AD Investigation, What’s Next? Fresh Product Association of America, April 11, 2019.
- Trump’s Trade War: Tariffs, Deals, What’s Next? Deutsche Bank International Investor Mission, Deutsche Bank, New York, NY, October 13, 2018.
- International Trade Under Trump, Korea Summit & China-US Trade Showdown: Impact on Washington Business, True World Group, Seattle, WA, May 17, 2018.
- WSCR: Guangxi Delegation – Regulatory Challenges in International Trade, Washington State China Relations Council, Seattle, WA, July 12, 2017.
- NAFTA 2.0: U.S.-Canada Trade Issues, American Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver, BC Canada, June 13, 2017.
- Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute (Version 2.0): How Did We Get Here, and How Do We Get Off This Ride? American Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver, BC, October 4, 2016.
- AD/CVD Proceedings Likely if Cannabis Made Legal to Import, Trade Lawyer Says, Trade Law Daily, December 2, 2022.
- Today is the day: a look at what’s at stake and what’s at play in the 2020 election, LexBlog, November 3, 2020.
- U.S.-China Trade War Gets Wrapped Up in Twist-Ties, The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2020.
- Will Donald Trump’s trade crusade ultimately benefit Southeast Asia?, South China Morning Post, July 20, 2019.
- Global marijuana trade is still five to seven years off, but Canada aims to be world’s cannabis king, Financial Post, June 17, 2019.
- Huawei’s Chief Legal Officer Takes Center Stage in Conflict with U.S., Law.com, Corporate Counsel, May 29, 2019.
- Companies Brace for New Round of US-China Trade Tensions, Law.com, Corporate Counsel, May 14, 2019.
- Will China Open the Door to Disney+? The Hollywood Reporter, April 29, 2019.
- End of Oil Sanctions Waivers Expected to Disrupt U.S.-China Trade Talks, Law.com, Corporate Counsel, April 12, 2019.
- US Businesses With Ties to Huawei Need to Prepare for Disruption, Law.com, Corporate Counsel, March 12, 2019.
- Crisis Firm’s 1.5 billion Port Project Aims to Heighten US Investment in Africa, Law.com, Corporate Counsel, February 20, 2019.
- Trump Won’t Meet Xi Before Trade War Deadline – But There Is Still Hope, South China Morning Post, Feb. 8, 2019.
- Retaliation Concerns Swirl in Wake of Huawei Indictments, Law.com, January 29th, 2019.
- Why This California Farmer Loves Tariffs, The Mercury News, January 12, 2019.
- Arrest of Huawei’s CFO Could Prompt More US Businesses to Leave China, The American Lawyer International, December 6, 2018.
- Will China Try to Block the Disney-Fox Deal?, The Hollywood Reporter, October 17, 2018.
- GCs Turning to Outside Counsel for Calm in the Trade War Storm, Corporate Counsel, August 17, 2018.
- What It Means for U.S. Startups if Trump Clamps Down on Chinese Investment, Inc.com, June 28, 2018.
- Chinese Tariffs on Salmon and Soybeans Are Likely Just the Opening Move: Why Tech Startups in China Should Gird for Shocks, Inc.com, June 19, 2018.
- China’s ZTE Slams US Ban, Says Company’s Survival At Risk, Reuters, April 19, 2018.
- ‘Everything Is on the Table’ in China Real Estate Sell Off, Commercial Observer, March 7, 2018.
- Trump’s Tariffs May Anger China And Here’s How They May Retaliate, CNBC.com, March 1, 2018.
- Chinese Takeover of Waldorf Astoria Owner Anbang Shows New Strategy, CNBC.com, February 26, 2018.
- Forget the Tough Trade Talk: Some US Leaders Are Courting Chinese Investment, CNBC.com, May 5, 2017.
- Regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and the award-winning Canna Law Blog.
- Cannabis Seed Importation Carries CBP Enforcement Risks, Law360, 2023.
- Senior Symposium Editor, Journal of International Law and Politics, New York University
- President, Student Bar Association, New York University
- cum laude, Harvard University
- International Trade Attorney, Harris Sliwoski (2016)
- International Trade Counsel, White & Case (2004-2016).
- International Trade Associate, White & Case (1995-2004).
- Clerk for Judge Richard W. Goldberg, U.S. Court of International Trade (1993-1994).
- New York State Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US Court of International Trade
- Washington State Bar Association
Proven Expertise for Challenging Legal Issues
Find Adams Recently Featured In...
Today is the day: a look at what’s at stake and what’s at play in the 2020 election
Adams Lee in LexBlog
November 3rd, 2020Adams Lee elaborate on this further on Harris Sliwoski’s China Law Blog, explaining that “Trump prefers unilaterally imposing U.S. tariffs on targeted imports, while Biden prefers multilateral trade action against China that is coordinated with U.S. allies.”
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U.S.-China Trade War Gets Wrapped Up in Twist-Ties
Adams Lee in The Wall Street Journal
October 11th, 2020Trade lawyers are closely following Bedford’s case, including Adams Lee in Harris Sliwoski’s international-trade practice, who says: “This currency manipulation subsidy is definitely more interesting than the twist-tie case itself.”
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‘Still chance of a breakthrough’ in China-US trade war even if Donald Trump holds off on talks with Xi Jinping
Adams Lee in South China Morning Post
February 8th, 2019Adams Lee, a Seattle-based international trade lawyer at law firm Harris Sliwoski, said Trump appeared to want to continue holding tariffs over China, given the “Tariff Man” title he has applied to himself.
“He wouldn’t necessarily have to escalate and increase the tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent,” Lee said. “He could say China has done enough to continue talking and maintain the current status quo.
“Seems like more work needs to be done by Lighthizer and lower-level folks with technical knowledge to hammer out what specific actions China needs to do, or what the US finds lacking.”
China’s ZTE Slams US Ban, Says Company’s Survival At Risk
Adams Lee in Reuters
April 19th, 2018The Commerce Department has an appeals process for companies to try to get off the list, but it is unclear whether that would be available to ZTE because the case had been previously subject to a settlement, according to people familiar with the matter.
Even so, ZTE would have little recourse in the near term because appeals would have to be approved by the BIS, the same agency that issued the ban.
Companies must submit appeals to a committee that would issue a ruling within 30 days, according to the agency’s website.
ZTE’s best chance would be if U.S. companies choose to lobby the Trump administration to lift the ban to save their business with ZTE, said Adams Lee, an international trade attorney at Harris Sliwoski.
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Chinese Takeover Shows New Strategy
Adams Lee in CNBC
February 26th, 2018In June, Anbang said its chairman, Wu Xiaohui, was no longer able to fulfill his duties. The China Insurance Regulatory Commission said in an online statement Friday that Wu has been charged with fundraising fraud and embezzlement.
“Anbang was probably taken out in a really public manner to set an example for others to step back a little bit,” said Adams Lee, an international trade lawyer at Harris Sliwoski. He’s watching to see if this is an isolated case, or if another Chinese company gets hit in another two to three months.
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Forget the Tough Trade Talk: Some US Leaders Are Courting Chinese Investment
Adams Lee in CNBC
May 5th, 2017So far this year, investment from China has slowed due to Beijing’s efforts to limit capital outflows. Some in the U.S. federal government have also discussed increasing scrutiny on Chinese deals for security reasons, and the idea of cooperation with China may not fly in some voting districts.
But many analysts expect Chinese authorities to loosen capital controls and remain confident that Chinese money will continue to flow into the United States.
“In the end, it doesn’t matter who opens a new factory in Kentucky, South Carolina, Idaho or wherever. Someone is investing in their community,” said Adams Lee, an international trade lawyer at Harris Sliwoski. Despite a recent lull, “I think there’s going to be more Chinese investment in the U.S. across all sectors,” he said.
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