International Trade Bulletin - Volume 1, Issue 4
Client Alert | 2 min read | 05.01.06
Inside this issue:
- CHINA IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- Intellectual Property: The U.S. and Japan recently announced a joint initiative to strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in China and other third countries
- Market Access: The World Trade Organization completed its first Trade Policy Review report of China which concludes that, although China has achieved success in its trade and investment reforms, it still faces challenges
- EUROPE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- Customs: The recent EU WTO "victory" over the U.S. on customs practices in Europe may seem like a blow to businesses facing customs clearance problems in the EU
- Counterfeit: The EU is to introduce harmonized criminal sanctions and heavy fines for infringements of intellectual property rights throughout the EU
- BILATERAL TRADE: Cross Lander's Investment in Romanian Auto Company Hits Rocky Terrain
- INVESTMENT: Representative Edward Markey, member of the House Homeland Security Committee, announces his intention to introduce an amendment to the Safe Ports Bill requiring inspection of all cargo coming into U.S. seaports
- TRADE REMEDIES: Is Zeroing Finally Dead?
- EXPORT CONTROLS: Recent Cancelled Sale of U.S. Computer Technology to China Highlights Concern over New Planned “Catch-All” Export Rule
- TRADE RETALIATION: The EU imposes punitive duties on eight additional U.S. products as retaliation against the U.S. Byrd law
Contacts
Insights
Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.21.25
On November 7, 2025, in Thornton v. National Academy of Sciences, No. 25-cv-2155, 2025 WL 3123732 (D.D.C. Nov. 7, 2025), the District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a False Claims Act (FCA) retaliation complaint on the basis that the plaintiff’s allegations that he was fired after blowing the whistle on purported illegally discriminatory use of federal funding was not sufficient to support his FCA claim. This case appears to be one of the first filed, and subsequently dismissed, following Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s announcement of the creation of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative on May 19, 2025, which “strongly encourages” private individuals to file lawsuits under the FCA relating to purportedly discriminatory and illegal use of federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in violation of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 21, 2025). In this case, the court dismissed the FCA retaliation claim and rejected the argument that an organization could violate the FCA merely by “engaging in discriminatory conduct while conducting a federally funded study.” The analysis in Thornton could be a sign of how forthcoming arguments of retaliation based on reporting allegedly fraudulent DEI activity will be analyzed in the future.
Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.20.25
Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.20.25
Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.19.25
