David R. Stepp

Admitted to practice: California, District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and U.S. Court of International Trade

Professional Activities and Memberships

• Board of Directors, Northern California World Trade Center
• Board of Directors, International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (Chairman, 2014, and President, 2013)
• Member, Global Legal Customs Association (President, 2008-2010)
• Member, American Bar Association

Speeches & Presentations

• "ESG and Insurers: Understanding the Current Landscape and the Risks Ahead," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2022. (September 13, 2022). Preston L. Pugh, Laura Foggan, Trina Fairley Barlow, David R. Stepp, Miranda H. Turner, Christopher A. Cole, and Elizabeth B. Dawson.
• Webinar: "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: Guidance and Response Strategies," Association of Corporate Counsel SoCal, 2022. (April 6, 2022). Speakers: Evan Y. Chuck, Partner; David R. Stepp, Partner.
• "Forced Labor Webinar," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2022. (March 30, 2022). Speakers: Evan Y. Chuck, Michelle J. Linderman, David R. Stepp, and Frances P. Hadfield.
• "Top 5 ESG Challenges and Opportunities for International Companies and Organizations," Crowell & Moring Webinar (November 2, 2021). Speakers: Judith Bussé, Ryan MacFarlane, and David R. Stepp.
• "International Trade in 2021: What’s Ahead," Crowell & Moring Webinar (February 17, 2021). Presenters: Vassilis Akritidis, Caroline E. Brown, Michelle J. Linderman, Joshua Pond, Nicole Janigian Simonian, David R. Stepp, Robert Clifton Burns, Carina C. Federico, Jackson C. Pai, Nicole Sayegh Succar, Michael Bowen, Chandler S. Leonard, Brian McGrath, Nimrah Najeeb, and Joshua Boswell.
• "Opportunities and Challenges for Taiwan Companies under the Trade War," Lexcel Partners Webinar (November 16, 2020). Panelists: Robert A. Burton, Evan Y. Chuck, and David R. Stepp.
• "China, Trade and Supply Chains: Policy and Operational Risks," The National Association of Manufacturers Webinar (October 7, 2020). Presenters: Evan Y. Chuck and David R. Stepp.
• "The rise of national security: how national security concerns are reshaping international trade with friends (and enemies)," The Future of International Trade Webinar Series (September 17, 2020). Panelist: David R. Stepp.
• "Supply Chain Considerations for Retail’s New Normal," Crowell & Moring Webinar (August 5, 2020). Presenters: Michelle Ann Gitlitz, Holly A. Melton, David R. Stepp, and Helen Osun.
• "China in the Crosshairs: An Overview of the U.S. Approach to Mitigating National Security Concerns," Crowell & Moring Webinar (June 23, 2020). Presenters: Caroline E. Brown, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, David R. Stepp, Gail D. Zirkelbach, Erik Woodhouse, Stephanie L. Crawford, Chandler S. Leonard, and Andrew Blasi.
• "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – A Substantial Rewrite of NAFTA or More of the Same?" Crowell & Moring Webinar (June 10, 2020). Presenters: John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra, David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield, Maria Vanikiotis, and Walter (Sam) Boone.
• "COVID-19 And Product Pivoting: Pitfalls and Opportunities," Crowell & Moring Webinar (April 22, 2020). Presenters: Jonathan M. Baker, John Fuson, David R. Stepp, Scott L. Winkelman, Chalana Netasha Damron, Stephanie L. Crawford, and Mariam Sarwar.
• "Global Trade in a Changing World," Robert Matsui U.S. Courthouse, Sacramento, CA (October 24, 2019). Presenter: David R. Stepp.
• "The America’s Panel: Has the US gained from its trade rows and where does this leave its trade partners? Have Belgian (European) companies to gain from this?" Managing Risks When Trading Overseas: The Impact of a Rapidly Changing Trade Environment, Antwerp, Belgium (March 15, 2019). Panelist: David R. Stepp.
• "Trade Wars with China: Analysis of Outcome," Federal Bar Association: 2019 Fashion Law Conference, New York, NY (February 8, 2019). Moderator: Frances P. Hadfield; Panelist: David R. Stepp.
• "Key Considerations for Cross-Border Transactions in Asia," Asia Pacific Business Outlook (APBO) Conference, Los Angeles, CA (April 17, 2018). Presenter: David R. Stepp.
• "U.S. – Asia Update 2017: Tracking Emerging Trends & Opportunities," Asia Pacific Business Outlook (APBO) Conference, Los Angeles, CA (March 27, 2017). Presenter: David R. Stepp.
• "Trends in U.S. International Trade Policy in the New Administration," Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) Annual Meeting & Conference, Lisbon, Portugal (March 16, 2017). Presenter: David R. Stepp.
• E-Commerce Workshop, American Association of Exporters & Importers and Foreign Trade Association’s 2017 Western Regional Conference, Los Angeles, CA (January 30, 2017). Presenter: David R. Stepp.

Publications

• "Department of Homeland Security Releases the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Strategy Report," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (June 28, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "CBP Issues its Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Operational Guidance for Importers," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (June 17, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "CBP Issues Minimal UFLPA Guidance: What We Know Based on WRO Detentions of Goods Alleged to be Made from Forced Labor in the XUAR Region," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (June 6, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "European Commission Issues a Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (February 24, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, Michelle J. Linderman, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "U.S. Senators Introduce the Slave-Free Business Certification Act," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (February 17, 2022). Authors: John B. Brew, Jeffrey L. Snyder, David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "Companies Sourcing China Goods Need Forced Labor Reviews," Bloomberg Law (February 10, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, and Evan Y. Chuck.
• "Fixing The Gray Areas In A Green Supply Chain," IndustryWeek (January 14, 2022). Authors: David R. Stepp, and Maria Vanikiotis.
• "House passes bill barring imports of goods produced in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (December 10, 2021). Authors: John B. Brew, David R. Stepp and Frances P. Hadfield.
• "Customs and Border Protection Publishes Trade Statistics Showing Increase in Enforcement Actions and Forced Labor Detentions," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (August 31, 2021). Authors: David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield, Maria Vanikiotis and Martín Yerovi.
• "Using Tech Can Accelerate International Trade Compliance," Bloomberg Law (August 6, 2021). Author: David R. Stepp.
• "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Announces Expiration of its Export Allocation Rule on Medical Supplies and Equipment for Covid-19," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (July 2, 2021). Authors: Adelicia R. Cliffe, David R. Stepp, Aaron Marx, Brian McGrath and Martín Yerovi.
• "CBP Issues Withhold Release Order (WRO) on Certain Silica-Based Products from Xinjiang, PRC," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (June 24, 2021). Authors: David R. Stepp, John B. Brew, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Frances P. Hadfield and Martín Yerovi.
• "The White House Establishes “Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force” Under Section 741 of USMCA Implementation Act," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (May 15, 2020). Authors: John B. Brew, David R. Stepp, Frances P. Hadfield and Walter (Sam) Boone.
• "USMCA (New NAFTA) To Take Effect July 1, 2020," Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Law (April 27, 2020). Authors: John B. Brew, David R. Stepp and Maria Vanikiotis.
• "Trade – Importing: Risky Business," Crowell & Moring's Litigation Forecast 2020 (January 22, 2020). Contributor: David R. Stepp.
• "China: Using Customs to Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)" Crowell & Moring's International Trade Law (January 18, 2020). Authors: Nicole Janigian Simonian, Jackson C. Pai and David R. Stepp.
• "China Customs and Intellectual Property Rights Protection," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer (December 10, 2019). Authors: Nicole Janigian Simonian, Jackson C. Pai and David R. Stepp.
• "Trade Winds: How Global Businesses Are Navigating Trade, Tariffs, and the Uncharted Waters Ahead," Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2019 (February 27, 2019). Contributors: Ambassador Robert Holleyman, David R. Stepp, Cheryl A. Falvey, Frederik Van Remoortel, Teresa Stanek Rea, Carlton Greene, and John B. Brew.

Client Alerts & Newsletters

• "Looking Ahead: Enforcement of the USMCA Labor Provisions," International Trade Bulletin (December 18, 2020). Contacts: John B. Brew, Nicole Janigian Simonian, Robert Holleyman, David R. Stepp, Jackson C. Pai
• "RETURN TO SENDER: China Provides New Tax and Duty Relief for Goods Returned to China for COVID-19 Reasons," International Trade Bulletin (November 12, 2020). Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, David R. Stepp, Zhongdong Zhang, Zhiwei Chen, Aurora Zhang, Jun Zhao
• "China Customs Targets Key Industries in Latest Transfer Pricing Enforcement Initiative," International Trade Bulletin (June 18, 2020). Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, David R. Stepp
• "Multinational Companies May Benefit From Chinese Stimulus Programs To Help Mitigate the Economic Impact in China of COVID-19," International Trade Bulletin (March 31, 2020). Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, Nicole Janigian Simonian, David R. Stepp, Jackson C. Pai
• "New Rules Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Impact E-Commerce," International Trade Bulletin (February 11, 2020). Contacts: John B. Brew, David R. Stepp, Lorraine M. Campos, Peter Eyre, Rina M. Gashaw
• "Getting Products to China: Avoiding Tariff Classification Traps in Uncertain Times," International Trade Bulletin (January 30, 2020). Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, David R. Stepp
• "The Month in International Trade – May 2019," International Trade Bulletin (June 12, 2019). Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, David (Dj) Wolff, Eduardo Mathison, John B. Brew, Evan Y. Chuck, David R. Stepp, Nicole Janigian Simonian
• "China Releases Product Exclusion Process for Certain U.S. Products Subject to Additional Retaliatory Tariffs," International Trade Bulletin (May 15, 2019). Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, Nicole Janigian Simonian, David R. Stepp

Press Coverage

• U.S. Steps Up Enforcement On Apparel Imports Over Forced Labor in Xinjiang
  July 7, 2021 — Women's Wear Daily
• USMCA's Trade Rules Are Keeping Carmakers On Their Toes
  April 12, 2021 — Law360
• PMI Wraps Up Successful Virtual Conference
  January 11, 2021 — Plumbing & Mechanical
• PMI20 Manufacturing Success Conference Held Virtually
  November 23, 2020 — Contractor Magazine
• Trade Attorneys Advising Companies To Reach USMCA Compliance As Quickly As Possible
  June 12, 2020 — Inside U.S. Trade
• When Manufacturing New Product Lines, Be Aware Of New Compliance Risks
  June 5, 2020 — Compliance Week
• Cos. Seek Tariff Relief
  June 27, 2019 — Los Angeles Business Journal
• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Loses Arbitration Leader to Withers
  September 4, 2018 — New York Law Journal
• Crowell & Moring Hires Ex-Bryan Cave Int'l Trade Pro
  September 4, 2018 — Law360
• Global Customs Maestro Joins Crowell & Moring
  August 29, 2018 — Bloomberg
• Crowell & Moring Appoints Trade Partner, Establishes California Presence
  August 28, 2018 — Global Trade Review
• International Trade Lawyer Joining Crowell & Moring
  August 27, 2018 — Daily Journal
• Crowell & Moring Adds First International Trade Partner In California
  August 27, 2018 — The American Lawyer
• US: Leading International Lawyer Joins Crowell & Moring
  August 27, 2018 — Competition Policy International
• Big Law News Roundup-August 2018
  August 2018 — Bloomberg

Firm News & Announcements