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International Customs Law
Take the Complexity Out of Customs
We provide importers, producers and exporters with legal assistance on international trade and customs matters.
Contact UsOur Customs Law Expertise
mports and exports are the lifeblood of the global economy, but the regulation of international trade is continually evolving and often subject to political machinations. In a world where “trade wars” and “tariffs” have become everyday language, compliance with U.S. Customs law requires more than just correctly preparing forms and ensuring prohibited goods are not landed at a U.S. port.
Companies must carefully consider the tariff and duty implications of importing goods from different manufacturing locations, just as they consider labor costs. Our lawyers, experienced in operating in major manufacturing centers in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, are uniquely equipped to assist importers, manufacturers, and exporters with a full range of international trade and customs matters.
We help identify duty mitigation strategies that may save our clients money, develop and implement internal import controls, and respond to regulatory or enforcement issues. These issues may include improperly assessed duties, the need to disclose errors, issued penalties, or seized goods.
For cannabis companies, we provide specialized assistance with import/export restrictions on CBD products and items that may be considered drug paraphernalia.
Ensure Ongoing Customs Compliance
The U.S. government’s actions to combat terrorism and human rights abuses around the world are increasing the burden on companies to ensure their supply chains are secure and free from forced labor. Facing the risk of significant fines and the indefinite exclusion of their products from the U.S. market, businesses cannot afford to ignore this issue or rely solely on their suppliers’ assurances. Companies must diligently monitor their entire supply chains, down to the raw materials used.
Every day, we help clients in dozens of industries determine how best to structure their international trade operations and navigate the customs and import landscape to their best advantage. Knowledgeable, connected, and client-focused, our lawyers can help you optimize your cross-border supply chain operations while ensuring ongoing compliance with ever-changing laws and regulations.
Representative Customs Compliance/Enforcement Matters
- Conducted classification, valuation, and country of origin/marking reviews to ensure clients meet their obligation of reasonable care.
- Assisted in identifying and developing duty optimization strategies.
- Reviewed client purchase orders, terms and conditions, and contract manufacturing agreements to minimize import compliance risk.
- Filed complaints at the U.S. Court of International Trade on behalf of clients challenging the imposition of ad valorem tariffs on imports from China.
- Conducted operational engineering analyses in connection with the country of origin-oriented restructuring of clients’ Asia-based production processes and supply chains.
- Guided clients through the process of preparing for and participating in CBP-administered RASAs, QRAs, and FAs.
- Prepared classification and country of origin ruling requests for clients from diverse industries.
- Assisted clients in gathering information for and preparing responses to CBP CF 28s (Requests for Information) and CF 29s (Notices of Proposed Action).
- Prepared prior disclosures on behalf of clients in various industries.
- Advised clients on partner government agency (PGA) registration, labeling, certification, verification, testing, foreign facility/establishment, bond, and entry requirements.
- Advised clients on the administrative recordation of trademarks and copyrights and the subsequent briefing of CBP port officers.
- Helped clients navigate the process of gathering information and responding to forced labor-related WRO detentions.
- Represented clients in connection with CBP detentions and recalls of merchandise.
- Prepared and filed petitions seeking the cancellation, mitigation, or remittance of penalties, liquidated damages claims, and seizures (merchandise and currency).
- Advised on the settlement of government claims through the presentation and negotiation of offers in compromise.
- Helped clients ascertain the applicability of Section 232 and Section 301 duties and the availability of Section 232 and Section 301 exclusions.
- Advised clients on the preparation of e-Allegations.
- Conducted priority trade issue screens focused on quota, IPR, trade remedy, forced labor, and economic sanction issues for clients across diverse industries.
- Helped clients navigate the process of becoming CTPAT-certified.
- Advised clients on the development of robust internal control programs and systems.
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Our Clients' Successes
“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”
Three Continents Foods LLC
This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry. They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process. Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.
Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms
Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.
Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.
I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.
Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC
I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive
Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves
Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation
You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations. They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.
Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals
When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel. The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find. After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.
Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis
We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.
Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp
We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.
Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone