Insights on Export Controls & Economic Sanctions

On May 23, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 25, “Authorizing Transactions Prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations or Involving Certain Blocked Persons,” following President Trump’s May 13 announcement.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Megan Gajewski Barnhill has joined the firm as a partner in the International Trade & Investment practice in Washington, DC. Megan’s practice focuses on helping companies navigate complex regulatory matters related to international business transactions and national security.

Welcome to the May 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Kay Georgi speaks on a panel at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association Annual Meeting and Conference.

Welcome to the April 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

The Trump Administration’s latest tariff announcements are set to send shockwaves through the fashion and retail sectors, potentially upending supply chains industry wide. Consumers can expect higher costs for their favorite apparel, footwear, handbags, and accessories.

President Trump’s first months in office have been busy, but, in the export control world, we have been grateful for a brief respite from the mind-bending, hundreds-of-pages-long, industry-changing rules that the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued during the last stretch of President Biden’s term — sometimes more than one per day!

Welcome to the March 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Join ArentFox Schiff’s Sylvia Costelloe for a trade compliance panel hosted by the Women In International Trade Orange County (WITOC).

On March 1, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) requiring the US Department of Commerce (Commerce) to investigate the national security implications in connection with imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products.

On February 25, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) requiring the US Department of Commerce (Commerce) to investigate the national security implications of the copper supply chain. The investigation will be based on section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Welcome to the February 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Join Mario Torrico for a panel organized by Asociación Nacional de Comercio Exterior (ANALDEX) and CID-Pro Consulting S.A.S.

This inaugural issue of ArentFox Schiff’s publication on international mining, energy, and infrastructure disputes aims to provide insights and practical information to general counsels and senior executives of companies operating internationally, particularly in countries that present challenging economic and political conditions for doing business.

The US Customs Agency, established in 1789 under the US Department of the Treasury, has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Initially focused on revenue collection and trade regulation, the agency’s role expanded to include national security functions following its integration into the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003 pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2022 (HSA).

The United States has prevailed in a dispute against Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) concerning genetically modified (GM) corn.

The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) introduced its long-anticipated (some would say dreaded) Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion (the AI Diffusion Rule) on January 15. Highlights include the first-ever export controls on artificial intelligence (AI) models and worldwide license requirements for advanced chips.

Welcome to the January 2025 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Kay Georgi speaks on a panel at the Practising Law Institute’s 2024 conference, Coping with US Export Controls and Sanctions.

Join Sylvia Costelloe as she speaks on antiboycott compliance at a Massachusetts Export Center webinar.

Kay Georgi speaks on the Society for International Affairs’ 2024 Fall Advanced Conference panel.

Welcome to the October 2024 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month.

Welcome to the September 2024 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month.

Welcome to the August 2024 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month.

On July 29, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) of the US Department of State proposed a new definition of the term “defense service.”