Contributing Lawyers

Canada

Cyndee Todgham Cherniak
Michael Flavell
Geoff Kubrick

United States

Susan Kohn Ross

India

China

Thailand

Apisith John Southam

Korea

Australia

Andrew Hudson

Iran Election – What Does It Portend?

The coverage of the election in Iran has been breathtaking, but also raises some troubling questions for international traders. Let’s start with the obvious conclusion. Any question about the totalitarian nature of the...

Infant/Toddler Durable Goods Registration Requirements

In the June 29, 2009 Federal Register, the Consumer Product Safety Commission published a notice which implements a provision in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that requires registration by manufacturers of durable...

Tracking Label Requirements Effective August 14, 2009 - Are You Ready?

On August 14, 2009, the CPSIA tracking label requirement becomes effective on all children’s products. All goods, domestic and imported, manufactured after that date must bear the requisite tracking label. The label...

CPSC Announces Position re Lead in Bicycle and Jogger Stroller Parts

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is proceeding on a per category basis to deal with the various provisions in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  The CPSIA was enacted to eliminate phthalates and...

Statutory Update

President changes GSP rules, plus Chile and Oman FTA updated - see edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15907.pdf

Can the United States End Bolivia's Duty Waiver?

The short answer is that the suspension of the U.S. duty waiver for goods from Bolivia may be inconsistent with WTO rules.  Bolivia is a developing country (but is not a least developed country). As a result, the WTO...

Professor Roth Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

On July 1, 2009, a U.S. federal judge sentenced a retired University of Tennessee professor to four years in prison breaching U.S. export laws by for passing sensitive information from a U.S. Air Force contract to two research...

Canada and Greece to Sign Tax Treaty

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will sign tomorrow the Convention between the Hellenic Republic and Canada for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to...

Can Trade and Climate Change Evolve Harmoneously Together?

On June 26, 2009, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a joint report on trade and climate change which examines the intersections between trade and climate change from four...

Canada's Federal Court of Appeal Makes Interesting Observation About Canada Revenue Agency Publications

I know that certain people at the Canada Revenue Agency (they know who they are) are not going to be happy with me for sharing this statement written by the Federal Court of Appeal.  But, the statement is useful for persons...

Canada's Federal Court of Appeal Determines Certain Investment Management Services Exempt from GST

On April 16, 2009, Canada's Federal Court of Appeal issued a very important decision in Her Majesty the Queen v. The Canadian Medical Protective Association.  Don't let the name of the the respondent fool you, the case does...

Canada and Jordan Sign Free Trade Agreement, Environmental Agreement, Labour Agreement and FIPPA

On June 28, 2009, Canada's International Trade Minister, Stockwell Day, announced that Canada and Jordan have signed a free trade agreement. In addition, Canada and Jordan signed Labour and Environmental Cooperation Agreements...

Canada Border Services Agency Releases D-Memo on Tariff Classificaiton of Certain Articles Using Bluetooth® Technology

On June 16, 2009, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) released D-Memo 10-14-57 "Tariff Classification of Certain Articles Using Bluetooth® Technology".  Before we discuss the contents of the D-Memo, let's discuss why...

Canadian Provinces Asked to Take First Move in Buy America Protectionist Game

It is not really a game - however, some may view the U.S. Buy America in the same light as the games played by North Korea - YES, I actually said that. I said this because the U.S. is seeking concessions from its trading partners...

Drug Bust - Say What!

Customs has an electronic daily digest which often relates stories about drug seizures. However, the latest one falls into the does not pass the smell test category!

Customs has announced the arrest of a 70 year old woman...

WTO Challenge to China by US

As Cyndee noted, the EU and US have brought an action at the WTO seeking to require China to reduce its export tariffs and remove or raise export quotas on yellow phosphorous, antimony, bauxite, coke, fluorspar, indium, magnesium...