International Law

Top Impacts of Cuba Being Removed From “Terrorism List”

As you know, the President made a big announcement back in December, 2014 that the US would take historic steps to chart a new course in our diplomatic relations with Cuba. One specific action item was instructing the Secretary of State to immediately launch a review of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and provide a report to the President within six months regarding Cuba’s support for international terrorism.

Within four months of the President’s announcement, on April 8, 2015 (2 months early!), the Secretary of State finalized their review and recommended that Cuba no longer be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.  Thereafter, on April 14, the President sent Congress the statutorily required report indicating the Administration’s intent to rescind Cuba’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, including the certification that “Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the previous six-months; and that Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.” Members of Congress, initially vowing to block the removal of Cuba from the “terrorism list” had no legal outlet to voice their opposition, and as of today, the 45-day Congressional pre-notification period has expired. As a result, the Secretary of State has officially made the final decision to rescind Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, effective today, May 29, 2015.

The Department of State issued a Press Statement today advising that:

The rescission of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism reflects our assessment […]

Exports from China are on the Rise – What is your IPR Plan?

On April 11, amid a high demand for soccer apparel in preparation for FIFA World Cup, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized counterfeit soccer apparel shipped from China to the Port of Savannah. The value of the seized goods exceeded $1 million in manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). The apparel seized contained counterfeit trademarks of the following professional soccer clubs: Arsenal, Barcelona, Celtic, Chelsea, Mexican Federation, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid.  Little did they know they should have tried to import Germany’s soccer club’s apparel. “You look at that Chelsea patch, and it just looks off,” said Steve Sapp, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “The last B is smaller than the rest, and that’s the kind of thing you often see with these counterfeit goods. Our investigators know the signs that these goods aren’t real.”  Both images are provided below for you to see for yourself – check out the extra space at the top, and the “u” in club.

This month, CBP again seized a shipment of counterfeit soccer apparel from China. This time, the shipment arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the apparel consisted of Brazilian, Italian and Argentinian national soccer clubs’ uniforms. “The trade in these illegitimate goods is associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, and often funds criminal enterprises”, stated Area Port Director Juan Hurtado.  The apparel shipped to Puerto Rico violated the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of Puma, Adidas and Nike.

With exports from China rising, protecting intellectual […]

Jen Diaz Honored as Rising Star by DBR

On July 18, 2013, the Daily Business Review (DBR) announced the 40 young Florida lawyers chosen as 2013 Rising Stars by a panel of DBR judges. I’m proud to announce I have been selected as one of the 40 Rising Stars!
The article stated:

Our panel carefully reviewed more than 125 nominations of attorneys 40 years old and under who have established themselves as top contributors to the practice of law and their communities, and are in a position to become tomorrow’s top lawyers and leaders.

See the list of the 40 Rising Star honorees.

Profiles of all the Rising Stars will appear in a DBR special section on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and an event honoring their accomplishments will be held that night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Bankers Club in downtown Miami, One Biscayne Tower, Biscayne Room, 14th Floor.
For those who wish to attend the event to honor the Rising Stars, please contact Andre Sutton at asutton@alm.com or (757) 721-9020. The event’s main sponsor is Ice Legal.

Congratulations to the 2013 Rising Stars.

-David Lyons, Editor in Chief
-Chris Mobley, Publisher

I’m honored to have been selected and invite you to join me as we celebrate on September 18th at the Bankers Club.

By |2013-07-19T22:41:00-04:00July 19, 2013|Customs Expert, International Law|0 Comments

An International Business Masters: Success in a Borderless Economy

 

Rapidly advancing technologies offer businesses the chance to enjoy an international presence. In line with the increasing opportunities for businesses to conduct their affairs on a global scale, there is a growing demand for expertly qualified individuals who understand the intricacies of international business practices.

It is unlikely that a bachelors degree on its own will suffice to launch an executive level career in international trade. Although there are certain elements of business studied at an undergraduate level that will put a student in good stead for a future career in the field of international trade, the majority of recruiters will require applicants to be educated at a graduate level. A Masters in International Business offers a focused route to becoming the type of applicant that business leaders want to hire.

MBA/MIB courses in this area will typically include study of the core subjects involved in any masters program. Each college and university is different, but core subjects generally include such topics as financial reporting and analysis, the legalities of operating a business, and managerial economics. Following completion of requisite courses, students will move on to specialize in the various aspects of corporate management at an international level. These may include such subjects as international trade laws, global logistics, and foreign market investments. It is also likely that students will be expected to achieve competency in one or more foreign languages. Internships at companies based overseas may be offered.

Where to Study a Masters in International Business

Many business schools offer electives in the […]

As U.S. Imports from China Intensify so does CBP Enforcement

Co-authored by Michael De Biase. 

With the concentration of US imports from China increasing in parallel with intellectual property rights seizures, companies rely heavily on the government, specifically on US Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to help protect and enforce their intellectual property rights (“IPR”).

According to Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China, “US imports from China [are] more concentrated than ever“.

Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce establishes that importation into the U.S. is a concentrated field, with the top 500 U.S. importers – 0.4 % of all importers – comprising roughly 68% of all imports by value in 2010. Imports from China, although somewhat less concentrated, are still dominated by larger enterprises, as companies with more than 500 employees – 4% of all importers from China – account for 60% of all imports from China. As concentration increases, the opportunity to trade in quantities that take advantage of China’s economies of scale decrease; thus, heightened concentration is not a good thing for Chinese manufacturers.

While the import concentration from China is growing, CBP is reporting a record number of IPR seizures. From 2010-2011 alone, IPR seizures increase by 24%, and have nearly doubled since 2009. Considering that China is the number one source company of imports, it should come as no surprise that it also accounts for the largest number of IPR seizures, with 62% of […]

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