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International Trade

Overview

A collaborative practice for an interconnected economy

Ongoing supply chain disruptions, geopolitical struggles, and increased scrutiny on issues such as forced labor and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards have underscored the interconnectedness of the global economy and its impact on businesses large and small. In addition, more international trade policies are being issued, by more authorities, with broader commercial consequences, and on a faster timeline than ever before.

Crowell’s International Trade Group has 50+ lawyers and trade professionals dedicated to helping clients understand the rapidly changing law and providing actionable guidance that appreciates the direct and indirect impact on all aspects of a company’s operations. In the heart of Europe, our Brussels team handles the full spectrum of trade defense and customs issues, including litigation before national, European Courts, and the WTO. We advise on export controls and economic sanctions, provide strategic counselling and training, and monitor local and international developments to ensure that we support our clients’ business needs in this fast-paced environment.

We work across legal disciplines to provide coordinated, strategy-driven solutions that address our clients’ most complex, pressing concerns while identifying and achieving specific business goals.

Moreover, Crowell Brussels is registered in the transparency register of the European Commission and therefore allowed to try to influence the law-making and policy implementation process of the EU institutions.

Focus Areas

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  • We have a unique combination of legal, managerial and accounting skills within our team that has led to impressive results. Whether we are representing an EU-based client in an offensive action, or defending an international client before an EU institution, our focus is on decreasing our clients’ duty exposure, and we have had repeated successes in obtaining zero duty, getting duty refunds, and winning in court.

    Our practitioners regularly represent clients before the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Court of International Trade. Our solid experience results from more than 200 Trade Defense Investigations (Trade Remedies) across the Atlantic. We have represented domestic industries as petitioners, foreign producers/exporters, and importers as respondents, in anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard investigations, before national, EU, and international authorities.

    In addition, we represent clients before other WTO members’ investigating authorities, such as Brazil, Turkey, China, Pakistan, and India, and our understanding of the complex similarities and differences between the various legal systems enhances the quality of our legal counselling. We also represent sovereign governments before the WTO.

    We have a unique combination of legal, managerial and accounting skills within our team that has led to impressive results. Whether we are representing an EU-based client in an offensive action, or defending an international client before an EU institution, our focus is on decreasing our clients’ duty exposure, and we have had repeated successes in obtaining zero duty, getting duty refunds, and winning in court.

    Our practitioners regularly represent clients before the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Court of International Trade. Our solid experience results from more than 200 Trade Defense Investigations (Trade Remedies) across the Atlantic. We have represented domestic industries as petitioners, foreign producers/exporters, and importers as respondents, in anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard investigations, before national, EU, and international authorities.

    In addition, we represent clients before other WTO members’ investigating authorities, such as Brazil, Turkey, China, Pakistan, and India, and our understanding of the complex similarities and differences between the various legal systems enhances the quality of our legal counselling. We also represent sovereign governments before the WTO.

  • We help our clients navigate the complexity of customs regulations. We work in collaboration with in-house customs teams to provide tailor-made advice on compliance, e.g., regarding proper classification, valuation, origin and the marking of goods entering the EU. We advise on origin determinations and represent our clients in related investigations, we counsel on the application of free trade agreements and supply chain planning that may affect their exposure to customs duties and tariffs. We also perform customs compliance audits for our clients.

    We help our clients navigate the complexity of customs regulations. We work in collaboration with in-house customs teams to provide tailor-made advice on compliance, e.g., regarding proper classification, valuation, origin and the marking of goods entering the EU. We advise on origin determinations and represent our clients in related investigations, we counsel on the application of free trade agreements and supply chain planning that may affect their exposure to customs duties and tariffs. We also perform customs compliance audits for our clients.

  • The rapid, cross-border movement of data, currency, goods, people, and services requires companies of every size to navigate new and complex regulatory and compliance challenges. We provide comprehensive and practical guidance on international trade controls. Our global team of sanctions and export controls lawyers, supported by trade professionals, monitor, analyze, and report on developments in this rapidly changing area.

    We advise our clients on the combined effect of EU, U.S., and UK sanctions. We are mindful of governmental concerns, as the nature of adversaries and threats evolve, and national governments develop new strategies to fight them. On export controls, we conduct internal reviews and investigations; defend against inquiries and agency interventions; obtain licenses for specific operations; and coordinate closely with our public procurement as well as our privacy and cybersecurity colleagues to manage the risks created by trade control laws.

    Global compliance requires the integration and synthesis of multiple legal obligations, and our team aids in the development of corporate compliance programs to support global business. We work with diverse stakeholders who may be affected by economic sanctions and export controls, in manufacturing, financial and other services, insurance, transport and logistics, to the benefit of both large multinational corporations and small start-ups, oil and gas industry players, developers, distributors, and service providers.

    The rapid, cross-border movement of data, currency, goods, people, and services requires companies of every size to navigate new and complex regulatory and compliance challenges. We provide comprehensive and practical guidance on international trade controls. Our global team of sanctions and export controls lawyers, supported by trade professionals, monitor, analyze, and report on developments in this rapidly changing area.

    We advise our clients on the combined effect of EU, U.S., and UK sanctions. We are mindful of governmental concerns, as the nature of adversaries and threats evolve, and national governments develop new strategies to fight them. On export controls, we conduct internal reviews and investigations; defend against inquiries and agency interventions; obtain licenses for specific operations; and coordinate closely with our public procurement as well as our privacy and cybersecurity colleagues to manage the risks created by trade control laws.

    Global compliance requires the integration and synthesis of multiple legal obligations, and our team aids in the development of corporate compliance programs to support global business. We work with diverse stakeholders who may be affected by economic sanctions and export controls, in manufacturing, financial and other services, insurance, transport and logistics, to the benefit of both large multinational corporations and small start-ups, oil and gas industry players, developers, distributors, and service providers.

  • There are many market access issues for goods and services, such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, and dissimulated obstacles to trade devised by protectionist trends in various countries. Despite the creation of the WTO, diverse restrictive measures continue to have a potentially damaging effect on international trade. We make sure that our clients gain the best possible access to their respective markets and are protected against discrimination. We advise, negotiate, and litigate on their behalf and/or on behalf of the relevant government.

    There are many market access issues for goods and services, such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, and dissimulated obstacles to trade devised by protectionist trends in various countries. Despite the creation of the WTO, diverse restrictive measures continue to have a potentially damaging effect on international trade. We make sure that our clients gain the best possible access to their respective markets and are protected against discrimination. We advise, negotiate, and litigate on their behalf and/or on behalf of the relevant government.

  • The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is responsible for investigating fraud against the EU budget, and corruption and serious misconduct within the European institutions. OLAF is part of the European Commission, but it has operational independence. Our Brussels team has extensive experience advising parties involved in OLAF investigations, including producers, exporters, importers, transporters and sellers. We also assist our clients pro-actively in order to prevent or remedy any type of misconduct that could be sanctioned by OLAF, e.g., through in-house compliance and dawn raid trainings. We help our clients to navigate the interactions between OLAF, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and domestic (administrative, law-enforcement and judicial) or international authorities (for example, Eurojust, Europol, Interpol). Our goal is to translate OLAF’s legal practice into business terms and actionable measures, including customs and any other type of EU-funded action.

    The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is responsible for investigating fraud against the EU budget, and corruption and serious misconduct within the European institutions. OLAF is part of the European Commission, but it has operational independence. Our Brussels team has extensive experience advising parties involved in OLAF investigations, including producers, exporters, importers, transporters and sellers. We also assist our clients pro-actively in order to prevent or remedy any type of misconduct that could be sanctioned by OLAF, e.g., through in-house compliance and dawn raid trainings. We help our clients to navigate the interactions between OLAF, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and domestic (administrative, law-enforcement and judicial) or international authorities (for example, Eurojust, Europol, Interpol). Our goal is to translate OLAF’s legal practice into business terms and actionable measures, including customs and any other type of EU-funded action.

End-to-end service at every step — and across jurisdictions and industries

We have offices in key capitals and commercial centers — including Brussels, Doha, London, Shanghai, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. — and in collaboration with C&M International, the firm’s global government relations, public policy and public affairs affiliate, we have represented the interests of clients before national governments and international trade agencies throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If administrative or political solutions are not possible, clients benefit from our significant global litigation experience in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, EU Court of Justice, and other national and international courts.

Our lawyers and trade professionals leverage experience from government, industry and in-house roles to provide comprehensive and practical advice to companies in a wide array of industries, including:

  • Aerospace and defense
  • Apparel and textiles
  • Chemicals
  • Food and beverage
  • Manufacturing
  • Medical devices
  • Oil and gas
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Personal care
  • Renewable energy
  • Retail
  • Semi-conductor and chip manufacturing
  • Technology

Insights

Firm News | 2 min read | 03.14.24

Chambers Ranks Crowell Lawyers and Practices in 2024 Europe Guide

Chambers and Partners has ranked five Crowell & Moring practice groups and seven individual lawyers in the Chambers Europe 2024 guide.

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Insights

Firm News | 2 min read | 03.14.24

Chambers Ranks Crowell Lawyers and Practices in 2024 Europe Guide

Chambers and Partners has ranked five Crowell & Moring practice groups and seven individual lawyers in the Chambers Europe 2024 guide.