James Kim*

Associate

James helps companies translate complex trade and import laws into clear, strategic, and actionable business guidance.

James Kim Portrait

James is a seasoned international trade attorney who advises clients across the automotive, energy storage, solar, electronics, biotech, agriculture, manufacturing and e-commerce sectors. His practice spans the full spectrum of import and trade compliance—from granular tariff classification issues to high-stakes litigation and regulatory strategy with bottom-line impact.

Known for digging into the details without losing sight of business realities, James works seamlessly with in-house counsel, compliance, procurement, engineering, and C-suite stakeholders. His advice is grounded in deep legal knowledge, real-world experience, and a focus on what matters most to the business: risk mitigation, cost savings, and long-term strategic positioning. 

While James is particularly known for his customs practice—including tariff classification, country of origin, marking, valuation, special tariffs, duty drawback, Foreign Trade Zones, prior disclosures, penalty mitigation, and free trade agreements—he also advises on a broad array of international trade issues. These include antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) matters, forced labor enforcement and supply chain due diligence under the UFLPA, export controls and sanctions compliance, and evolving requirements tied to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives. He also counsels clients on Made in USA labeling, partner government agency regulations (such as NHTSA, EPA, and FDA), and national security reviews conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

James frequently writes and speaks on emerging trade and import compliance developments, offering practical, business-aligned guidance. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns, a trade-focused newsletter followed by importers, compliance professionals, and in-house counsel for its timely insights and bottom-line relevance.

*Not admitted in California. Admitted in Virginia only. Practice limited to federal trade and regulatory matters.

Representative Work

  • Advised a U.S. battery manufacturer on duty mitigation strategies, securing a favorable CBP binding ruling that delivered over $50 million in duty savings.
  • Counseled a major U.S. solar manufacturer on classification, country of origin, and valuation issues.
  • Represented a Japanese tire company during a CBP risk assessment and on-site review, addressing related-party pricing and valuation concerns.
  • Advised a Canadian EV manufacturer in a USMCA qualification review, resulting in hundreds of millions in duty savings.
  • Advised a Korean automotive importer on CBP, NHTSA, and other U.S. regulatory requirements for importing fuel cell trucks.
  • Counseled a U.S. energy storage company in origin disputes before CBP and the Court of International Trade.
  • Represented a Japanese optical equipment manufacturer in CIT litigation involving a tariff classification dispute.
  • Advised on the implementation of a duty drawback program for a multinational e-commerce company, enabling tens of millions in annual duty recovery.
  • Delivered customized customs compliance training to hundreds of employees at a multinational pharmaceutical and biotech company.
  • Advised a Canadian oil and natural gas company on USMCA qualification and related-party transfer pricing.

Previous Experience

Before joining ArentFox Schiff, James served for seven years as an attorney-advisor at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). There, he played a central role in implementing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), particularly the automotive rules of origin, and helped shape CBP’s policies on classification, entry procedures, prior disclosures, recordkeeping, and customs enforcement.

He also served in CBP’s Regulations and Rulings division, where he drafted binding rulings and advised on complex customs issues involving valuation, classification, free trade agreements, country of origin, and special trade programs.

Earlier in his career, James practiced at a transportation-focused boutique law firm, representing freight forwarders and motor carriers. He was also an editor of the George Mason Law Review and a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Publications & Presentations

James’s publications include:

James’s presentations include:

In The News

Life Beyond the Law

James is a Council of Korean Americans (CKA) member and NetKAL Fellow, and a former board member of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL). Outside of work, he enjoys running, cooking, and hiking with his family.

Insights