Alexander H. Schaefer is a partner in the International Trade Group at the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Alex represents clients contending with U.S. import regulations, including the customs and trade remedies laws. He assists clients with a broad range of Customs issues, including tariff classification, import valuation, focused assessment audits, penalty proceedings, prior disclosures, reconciliation, special duty programs, and free trade agreements. In addition, Alex has represented both petitioners and respondents in a variety of trade remedy cases, including antidumping, countervailing duty, and Section 201 proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Alex is a member of the International Trade Group's duty recovery team, which helps companies identify opportunities to minimize import duty outlays and cut supply chain costs to increase profitability. Alex also works closely with the firm's Product Risk Management Group, which helps clients in a broad range of industries identify potential legal risks associated with new products and ventures as well as providing advice on risk management tactics and protocols.
Alex is a member of the bars of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- American Bar Association International Section
- D.C. Bar International Section
- Customs and International Trade Bar Association
Representative Matters
- Counsel to Rubbermaid in Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC v. United States, in which Rubbermaid successfully argued that its cleaning system products are outside the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Chinese aluminum extrusions.
- Represented a multinational chemical company in a customs liquidated damages proceeding and mitigated damages from over $13 million to less than $100,000.
- Represented the largest subject merchandise importer in the Commerce and International Trade Commission antidumping investigation of diffusion-annealed nickel-plated sheet from Japan.
Insights
Speeches & Presentations
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"Trade Under the Trump Administration: Costs and Opportunities," International Fragrance Association of North America’s Regulatory Workshop, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
(April 5, 2017).
Speaker: Alexander H. Schaefer.
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"This Year in Trade – What's Ahead in 2017?" Webinar, Crowell & Moring's First 100 Days Series
(January 18, 2017).
Presenters: Benjamin Blase Caryl, Paul Davies, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Charles De Jager, Carlton Greene, Robert L. LaFrankie, Aaron Marx, James (J.J.) Saulino, Alexander H. Schaefer, and David (Dj) Wolff.
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"Trade Recovery," Crowell & Moring's Second Annual In-House Recovery Conference, Dana Point, CA
(March 10-11, 2016).
Speakers: Alex Schaefer, Jini Koh, and Mike Lambert.
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"This Year in Trade - Fall Update," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(October 8, 2015).
Presenters: Adelicia R. Cliffe, Paul Davies, Charles De Jager, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Lindsay Denault, Frances P. Hadfield, Aaron Marx, Glen G. McGorty, James (J.J.) Saulino, and Alexander H. Schaefer.
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"Trade Comliance for the Business Lawyer," American Bar Association Webinar
(October 6, 2015).
Presenters: Alexander H. Schaefer, Christopher Monahan, Brian Sumner (Alcoa), Susan Adams (Cigna), Autumn Hunter (Bank of America).
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"This Year in Trade - What's Ahead in 2015: Ongoing Battles Over Duties & Trade Remedies," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(February 10, 2015).
Presenters: Alexander H. Schaefer, Damon Pike (The Pike Law Firm), Prentiss Lee Smith (King & Spalding), and Diane A. MacDonald (Baker & Mckenzie).
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"Customs and Trade: The Price of Admission: Managing the New Import Regulation Model and Avoiding Pitfalls at the Border," Crowell & Moring Product Risk Management Seminar
(October 19, 2011).
Moderator: Laurent Ruessmann. Panelists: Leigh Schmid (Limited Brands); Alex Schaefer.
Publications
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"FCA Suit Brought Against Importer for Evading Customs Duties," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(April 30, 2019).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer, Jason M. Crawford and Allegra K. Flamm.
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"Reverse FCA Cases Rise With 'America First' Trade Policies," Law360
(April 18, 2019).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer, Jason M. Crawford, and Allegra K. Flamm.
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"USTR Announces Special Review under Section 301 – Hearing Set for February 27," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(December 28, 2018).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer and Spencer Toubia.
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"USTR Initiates Process to Levy Additional Duties on $200 Billion Worth of Chinese Goods," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(July 11, 2018).
Authors: John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer, Frances P. Hadfield, Spencer Toubia and Edward Goetz.
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"No Section 232 Product Exclusions for Countries Subject to Steel or Aluminum Quotas," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(June 6, 2018).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer, Yun Gao, Cherie Walterman and Edward Goetz.
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"President Makes Decisions on Country Exemptions for Section 232 Tariffs," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(May 1, 2018).
Authors: Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer and Cherie Walterman.
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"Safeguard tariffs imposed by U.S. on solar panels and washing machines are first since 2002 steel import restrictions." Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(January 23, 2018).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer and Frances P. Hadfield.
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"Commerce Submits its Section 232 Report on Steel Imports to President Trump," Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law
(January 12, 2018).
Authors: Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie & Cherie Walterman.
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The International Trade Law Review, Chapter 13, United States
(2016 and 2017).
Authors: Alexander H. Schaefer, Charles De Jager, and Benjamin Blase Caryl.
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"U.S. Customs: A Practitioner's Guide to Principles, Processes, and Procedures, Second Edition," International Practitioner's Deskbook Series, American Bar Association
(2016).
Co-Author (Ch. 1: Introduction and Overview): John B. Brew, Co-Authors: (Ch. 6: Duty Savings Opportunities): John B. Brew and Jini Koh, Co-Authors (Ch. 8: Administrative and Judicial Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Decisions): John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer, and Frances P. Hadfield, Co-Author (Ch. 12: Customs Enforcement of Other Agencies' Regulations): Jini Koh.
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"CPSC Brings Action in Federal Court Against Michaels Stores," Crowell and Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(April 30, 2015).
Authors: Danielle Rowan, Alex Schaefer, and Jini Koh.
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"Landmark CAFC Decision Invalidating Applicability of Countervailing Duty Law to Non-Market Economies," North American Free Trade & Investment Report
(January 15, 2012).
Co-Authors: Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, and Jini Koh.
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"U.S. Customs: A Practitioner's Guide to Principles, Processes, and Procedures," International Practitioner's Deskbook Series, American Bar Association
(2009).
Contributor: Ch. 2: Clearing CUstoms; Ch. 6: Duty Savings Opportunities; Ch. 8: Administrative and Judicial Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Decisions: Nicole M. Jenkins and Alexander H. Schaefer.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"The Month in International Trade – April 2019,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 13, 2019).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, John B. Brew, Robert Clifton Burns, David (Dj) Wolff, Alexander H. Schaefer, Jason M. Crawford
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"Rise in Reverse FCA Cases Amidst ‘America First’ Trade Policies,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(April 25, 2019).
Contacts: Jason M. Crawford, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"The Month in International Trade – December 2018,"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 10, 2019).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer, Eduardo Mathison, Carlton Greene
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"The Month in International Trade – March 2018,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 11, 2018).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Carlton Greene, Ian A. Laird, Eduardo Mathison, David (Dj) Wolff, John B. Brew, Wing Cheung, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"The Month in International Trade — September 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 9, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Robert Holleyman, Evan Yu, Michelle J. Linderman, Gordon McAllister, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"The Month in International Trade — May 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(June 8, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, John B. Brew, Robert L. LaFrankie, Aaron Marx, Eduardo Mathison, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Thomas A. Hanusik, Sarah Bartle, Kelly T. Currie, Ian A. Laird, John Laird, Alan W. H. Gourley, Adelicia R. Cliffe, M. Yuan Zhou
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"The Month in International Trade — April 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 4, 2017).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, John B. Brew, Robert L. LaFrankie, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Edward Norman, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Kris D. Meade
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"PODCAST: The Trump Administration’s New Import Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber – C&M’s First 100 Days Series,"
Biden 2021 Series2
(April 28, 2017).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Commerce Initiates Investigation into Steel Imports' Impact on U.S. National Security,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 20, 2017).
Contacts: Daniel Cannistra, Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, Jeffrey L. Snyder, John B. Brew, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"This Month in International Trade — March 2017,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 6, 2017).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Alan W. H. Gourley, M. Yuan Zhou, Adelicia R. Cliffe
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"This Month in International Trade — October 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(November 3, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Danielle Giffuni, Kelly T. Currie, Alan W. H. Gourley
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"U.S. Terminates Sanctions Against Burma,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 12, 2016).
Contacts: Carlton Greene, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff
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"This Month in International Trade — September 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 11, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Ian A. Laird, John Laird, Gordon McAllister, Aaron Marx, David (Dj) Wolff, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Robert L. LaFrankie
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"U.S. Announces Intent To Lift Remaining Sanctions Against Burma,"
International Trade Bulletin
(September 15, 2016).
Contacts: Carlton Greene, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff
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"This Month in International Trade - August 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(September 8, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Aaron Marx, David (Dj) Wolff, Alexander H. Schaefer, Daniel Cannistra, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Kate Clemans, Patricia L. Wu, Ryan MacFarlane, Carlton Greene
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"This Month in International Trade - July 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 4, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, George D. Ruttinger, Edward Norman, Jeffrey L. Poston, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Jeane A. Thomas, CIPP/E, Evan D. Wolff, Frederik Van Remoortel, Carlton Greene, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Matthew B. Welling, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Ian A. Laird, Eduardo Mathison, Warren Lehrenbaum, Preetha Chakrabarti
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"This Month in International Trade - March 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 7, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, David (Dj) Wolff, Ian A. Laird, Aaron Marx, Alexander H. Schaefer, Wing Cheung, Anne Elise Herold Li, Eduardo Mathison
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"Import-Related Protection of IP Rights Strengthened in New Trade Law,"
(March 28, 2016).
Contacts: Alexander H. Schaefer, Michael H. Jacobs, Aaron Marx, Omar A. Galiano
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"This Month in International Trade - February 2016,"
International Trade Bulletin
(March 8, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, David (Dj) Wolff, Thomas A. Hanusik, Carlton Greene, Ian A. Laird, Alexander H. Schaefer, Eduardo Mathison
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"This Month in International Trade - December 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 7, 2016).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Alan W. H. Gourley, Daniel Cannistra, Thomas A. Hanusik, Alexander H. Schaefer, Ian A. Laird, Carlton Greene, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison
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"This Month in International Trade - November 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(December 3, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Alan W. H. Gourley, Ian A. Laird, Alexander H. Schaefer, Frederik Van Remoortel, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison
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"This Month in International Trade - October 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(November 5, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff
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"This Month in International Trade - August 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(September 2, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Pierce Lee, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, Jennifer N. Waters, Anne Elise Herold Li, David (Dj) Wolff, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro
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"This Month in International Trade - July 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 6, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Pierce Lee, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison
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"This Month in International Trade - May 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(June 4, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Kathryn L. Clune, Alan W. H. Gourley, Mark A. Klapow, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff, Aaron Marx, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro
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"This Month in International Trade - April 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 7, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff
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"CPSC Seeks Civil Penalties Against National Retail Chain,"
Advertising & State AG Alert
(April 2015).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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"This Month in International Trade - March 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 7, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff, Gordon McAllister, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro
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"This Month in International Trade - February 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(March 5, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff
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"This Month in International Trade - January 2015,"
International Trade Bulletin
(February 5, 2015).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Edward Goetz, Jennifer N. Waters, Alexander H. Schaefer, David (Dj) Wolff, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro
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"Attempted Country of Origin Engineering to Avoid Antidumping Duties Leads to False Claims Act Exposure,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 27, 2012).
Contacts: Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Recent Guidance For The Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at The EU Border,"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 20, 2012).
Contacts: Kristof Roox, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Customs Proposes Regulations to Allow Offsets of Duty Overpayments in Audits and Disclosures,"
International Trade Bulletin
(November 5, 2009).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"USTR Invites Public Comments on 2008 Import Statistics and Review of Country Practice Petitions under the Generalized System of Preferences Program,"
International Trade Bulletin
(March 17, 2009).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Deadline for Costa Rica to Join CAFTA-DR Extended,"
International Trade Bulletin
(November 4, 2008).
Contacts: Daniel Cannistra, Alexander H. Schaefer, John B. Brew
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"APHIS Publishes Notice on the Implementation and Enforcement of New Lacey Act Requirements on Imports of Plant and Plant Products,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 15, 2008).
Contacts: John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Managing Hand Carry Export/Import Pitfalls,"
International Trade Bulletin
(October 1, 2008).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Customs Proposes Major Change to Origin Rules,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 18, 2008).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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"Customs Proposes To Substantially Transform The Substantial Transformation Test,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(August 8, 2008).
Contacts: Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, Jeffrey L. Snyder
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"Customs 10+2 Initiative,"
International Trade Bulletin
(February 11, 2008).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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"New Customs Publication Demands Independent Satisfaction of Customs Value Requirements,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 31, 2007).
Contact: Alexander H. Schaefer
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