Education

  • City of London Polytechnic (1983)
  • Bucknell University, B.A. (1985)
  • The Dickinson School of Law, J.D. (1988) staff editor, Dickinson Law Review

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade

Trade Winds: How Global Businesses Are Navigating Trade, Tariffs, and the Uncharted Waters Ahead


Click to read this article from
Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2019.
Regulatory Forecast 2019

John B. Brew

Partner
jbrew@crowell.com
+1.202.624.2720

When governments impose barriers to trade that restrict global supply chains, our team provides businesses timely, practical, and creative solutions through legal, political, and economic strategies to eliminate obstacles, reduce costs, and minimize the harm caused.

John Brew is the co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Group and a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

John has extensive experience in import and export trade regulation, collaborating with corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations on customs administration, enforcement, compliance litigation, legislation, and policy matters. He represents clients in proceedings at the administrative and judicial levels as well as before Congress and the international bureaucracies that handle customs and trade matters. John advises clients on all substantive import regulatory issues handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as classification, valuation, origin, marking, tariff preference programs, other agency regulations, admissibility, customs brokerage, Section 321, drawbacks, foreign trade zones, duty recovery programs, import restrictions, quotas, audits, prior disclosures, penalties, investigations, Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and trade compliance programs, importations under bond, the Jones Act, and vessel repairs.

John has assisted clients in a broad array of industries (automotive, aerospace, chemical, e-commerce, energy, pharmaceutical, petroleum, textile, apparel and footwear, food and beverage, agricultural, machinery, equipment, electronics, and household goods), providing creative solutions that enable clients to obtain significant duty savings and mitigate draconian customs penalties.

John’s practice also includes representation of clients in other international trade areas, such as human rights (forced labor, withhold release orders, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, modern slavery, and supply chain due diligence); export controls; sanctions; market access; World Trade Organization–related matters; bilateral, multilateral, and regional trade agreements; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; anti-boycott, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty actions; short supply proceedings; Sections 201, 232, 301, and 337; and other import relief actions.

John has been recognized by Chambers USA in the area of International Trade: Customs; Chambers Global in the area of International Trade, U.S.; The Best Lawyers in America in the area of International Trade and Finance Law; Who’s Who Legal in the area of Trade and Customs; and Super Lawyers in the area of International, and he won the 2020 Client Choice Award for International Trade in the United States.


Representative Matters

  • Assisting clients in implementing global duty recovery programs, obtaining significant duty refunds and savings by obtaining relief through Section 201, 232 and 301 tariff exclusions, Miscellaneous Tariff Bills, tariff engineering, first sale valuation, free trade agreements, tariff remission, antidumping reviews, drawback and free trade zones.          
  • Helping clients establish import compliance and cargo security programs and become C-TPAT and ISA members. 
  • Representing a home textile manufacturer in a favorable classification decision before Customs, the U.S. Court of International Trade and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and advising the company on multilateral and bilateral textile agreements. 
  • Counseling U.S. importers on Customs valuation issues, including audits, intracompany transfer pricing, three-tiered transactions, buying agency agreements and assists. 
  • Advising U.S. importers and exporters of aviation, automobile, food, beverage, chemical, construction, pharmaceutical, plastic, textile, apparel, and petroleum products during NAFTA verifications conducted by United States, Canadian and Mexican Customs officials, and advising multi-national clients on other free trade agreement origin verifications in the United States, EU and Asia. 
  • Defending U.S. importers and manufacturers against Customs penalty, liquidated damages, detention, seizure, and forfeiture actions, including obtaining dismissal of $5 million Customs penalty claim against importer by the U.S. Court of International Trade. 


Insights

Speeches & Presentations

  • "Compliant on Forced Labor? Prove It! | A Practical Guide on Preventing Forced Labor in Your Supply Chain and Responding to U.S. Customs Actions," Crowell & Moring Webinar Series, 2023. (March 21, 2023). Speakers: John Brew, Evan Chuck, Carolyn Krampitz, Laurel Saito, David R. Stepp and Simeon Yerokun.
  • "Section 301 Tariffs Policy: Where are we Now and Where are we Going?" American Conferences Institute (November 8-9, 2022). Panelist: John Brew.
  • “Understanding Court of International Trade (CIT) Cases,” 2022 Fall International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Conference, Grapevine, TX. (October 18, 2022). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "ESG Survey: Environmental Performance and the Stakes for Your Business," Crowell & Moring Webinar (December 9, 2021). Speakers: John B. Brew, Christopher A. Cole, Elizabeth B. Dawson, Thomas De Meese, Thomas A. Lorenzen, and Preston L. Pugh.
  • "Taking Advantage of the MTB: Reducing Tariffs Through the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Process," ICPA Summer Conference, Orlando, FL (July 27, 2021). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Forced Labor Enforcement by CBP: What We Know and What’s Coming," International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Spring Conference (March 29, 2021). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Is Relief from the Trade Wars in Sight?" Sports & Fitness Industry Association Webinar (January 26, 2021). Speakers: John B. Brew, Evan Y. Chuck, and Vassilis Akritidis.
  • "Recovery During COVID: Moving the Needle in 2020," Crowell & Moring Webinar (September 30, 2020). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Valuing Your Imports for U.S. Customs Entry," Lorman Webinar (September 16, 2020). Faculty: John B. Brew.
  • "Navigating 301 Duties," 2020 International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Fall Conference (September 15, 2020). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "USMCA: Advantages and Challenges for OFS," Petroleum Equipment and Services Association Webinar (August 19, 2020). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "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.
  • "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Imports: How Companies Can Effectively Move Goods In a Changing Environment," Crowell & Moring Webinar (April 15, 2020). Presenters: John B. Brew, Frances P. Hadfield, Aaron Marx, Brian McGrath, and Maria Vanikiotis.
  • "Reducing Tariffs Through the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) Process," Sports & Fitness Industry Association Webinar (October 22, 2019). Panelist: John B. Brew.
  • "China 301 Exclusion Requests: How to Obtain Favorable Results and Secure Duty Refunds," Sports & Fitness Industry Association Webinar (September 12, 2019). Panelist: John B. Brew.
  • "Update on the Trump China Tariffs - What is Going On?" Crowell & Moring Webinar (May 17, 2019). Presenters: James G. Flood, John B. Brew, Aaron Marx, Clark Jennings, W. Scott Douglas, and Tim Shadyac.
  • "The Impact of International Trade on the Surface Industry," The International Surface Event, Las Vegas, NV (January 23, 2019). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Trade, Tariffs, and Foreign Trade Zones," Arizona Manufacturer's Summit, Phoeniz, AZ (October 5, 2018). Panelist: John B. Brew.
  • "Import and customs: enforcement, drawback, Misc. Tariff Bill, and trade preference programs (GSP)," Trade in 2018 - What's Ahead?, Webinar (April 19, 2018). Presenters: John B. Brew and Aaron Marx.
  • "Global Duty Recovery – In the Age of Protectionism," Crowell & Moring's Fourth Annual In-House Recovery Conference, Dana Point, CA (March 8, 2018). Presenters: John B. Brew and Amanda M. Simpson.
  • "Interview with the Centers of Excellence and Expertise," American Conference Institute's Annual Forum on Customs and Trade Enforcement, Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2017). Interviewer and Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "What to Expect from NAFTA Renegotiations," Plumbing Manufacturers International Webinar (September 7, 2017). Panelists: John B. Brew and Melissa Morris.
  • "Sports Developments in Trade Law: Impact of Potential New Border Taxes on Imports; Plus, How to Combat Infringing Imports and Comply with New Forced Labor Laws," The Sports and Fitness Lawyers Team Presents: Zone Defense, Las Vegas, NV (February 6-7, 2017). Panelists: John B. Brew and Aaron Marx.
  • "Use of Statistical Sampling in Trade Compliance," International Compliance Professionals Association’s 2016 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV (March 16, 2016). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Statistical Sampling in Prior Disclosures: Understanding the Methods and Benefits while Avoiding Common Errors," American Conference Institute's 10th Advanced Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement, Washington, D.C. (January 21, 2016). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Global Trade and Customs Journal," 10th Annual WCO PICARD Conference, Baku, Azerbaijan (September 9, 2015). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Global Trade Recovery Opportunities," Crowell & Moring's First Annual In-House Affirmative Recovery Conference (March 19-20, 2015). Speakers: Daniel Cannistra and John B. Brew.
  • "Border Crossing Issues of Products," 2015 SFIA Litigation & Risk Management Summit, Las Vegas, NV (February 2-3, 2015). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Import Document Deep Dive – Navigating Documents Needed to Comply with FDA, CPSC, ATF, and FCC Import Requirements," ACI's 9th National Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement (June 11, 2014). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "FSMA and Foreign Suppliers: Managing New Customs Obligations and Responsibilities," Grocery Manufacturers Association's Science Forum, National Harbor, MD (April 6, 2014). Presenters: John B. Brew and John Fuson.
  • "Customs Valuation and Assists," International Compliance Professionals Association Annual Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL (March 23-27, 2014). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "The Centers of Excellence Debate – How Can Importers Benefit from These Centers?" American Conference Institute's 2nd U.S. Customs Compliance Boot Camp, Washington, D.C. (November 19-20, 2013). Co-Chair and Panelist: John B. Brew.
  • "How to Mitigate the Risks Associated with FSMA," China International Food Safety & Quality Conference + Expo 2013, Beijing (November 6-7, 2013). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Global Management: Import/Export U.S. and EU Perspectives on Rules and Compliance," All Hands Meeting International, Santa Clara, CA (May 16, 2013). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Understanding the Food Safety Modernization Act's Impact on your International Supply Chain," Grocery Manufacturer's Association, Science Forum, Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2013). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Getting Customs Valuation Right," ACI's U.S. Customs Compliance Boot Camp, Washington, D.C. (November 27-28, 2012). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Solving International Business Challenges -- Maximizing Opportunities and Minimizing Risks," Association of Corporate Counsel CLE, Santa Clara and San Francisco, CA (November 13-14, 2012). Presenters: John B. Brew, Adelicia R. Cliffe, and Christopher Wilson.
  • "Joint CPSC/Customs Inspections," Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Webinar (June 21, 2012). Panelist: John B. Brew
  • "Preparing for Customs Audits: How to Minimize the Risk of Non-Compliance during Focused Assessments," ACI's 6th Advanced Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement, Washington, DC (May, 17-18, 2011). Co-Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Bringing Value: Turning a Cost Center into a Profit Center," International Compliance Professional Association Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ (March 21, 2011). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Maximizing FTA Savings Opportunities," 6th Advanced Forum on Global Customs Compliance, Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2010). Co-Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Customs 101: Successful Advocacy in Customs Administrative Practice," Trade & Customs Law - Basics You Need to Know, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC (February 24, 2010). Panelist: John B. Brew.
  • "Maximizing Duty Saving Opportunities with Valuation and Classification," ACI's 5th Advanced Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement (October 2009). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "Overview of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)," Workshop sponsored by The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at the Fordham School of Law, and the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, Africa (August 2009). Speaker: John B. Brew.
  • "U.S. Customs 101 & How to Leverage Customs to Stop Counterfeit and Gray Market Goods at the Border," ACC Roundtable Luncheon, Anaheim, CA (February 25, 2009). Speakers: John Brew and Kimberly Chen Nobles.
  • "How to Handle Customs Audits and Penalty Proceedings," Compliance Online Webinar (June 12, 2008). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Country of Origin Laws: Marking Obligations and Duty Savings Opportunities," Valve Manufacturers Association of America CFO Seminar, Crystal City, VA (May 17-18, 2007). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Recent developments in Customs and International Trade," 2nd Annual Global Customs Summitt, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (March 6, 2007). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Roundtable Discussion of Free Trade Agreements," Advanced Import Compliance Forum, marcus evans, Chicago, IL (September 15, 2006). Moderator: John B. Brew.
  • "Guidelines for Preparing and Defending Quick Response Audits," Advanced Import Compliance Forum, marcus evans, Chicago, IL (September 14, 2006). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Performing an Audit of Your Company's Import Compliance: A Complete Guide for a Successful Self-Assessment," 2nd Advanced Forum on Import Compliance, American Conference Institute, Washington, D.C. (March 23, 2006). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "How Can Canadian Companies Prepare for United States' Customs and Border Protection Programs?," 9th Annual Conference: Customs Compliance, The Canadian Institute, Toronto (February 16, 2006). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Customs 101 for 2006: How U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regulates Commercial Imports," Trade and Customs Law Introduction/Refresher, Georgetown University Law Center and American Bar Association Section on International Law, Washington, D.C. (February 1, 2006). Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "Navigating the Trade Triangle: Importer's Master Class in Maximizing the Benefits and Duty Savings Available Under NAFTA," Import Compliance Forum, marcus evans, San Francisco, CA (December 7, 2005). Conference Chair and Presenter: John B. Brew.
  • "The Impact of International Trade on the Surface Industry," The International Surface Event, Las Vegas, NV Speaker: John B. Brew.

Publications


Client Alerts & Newsletters


Press Coverage


Firm News & Announcements

February 17, 2023 Chambers Ranks Eight Crowell Practice Groups and 15 Lawyers in 2023 Global Guide
September 8, 2022 Former U.S. State Department Defense Trade Controls Policy Analyst Maria Alejandra del-Cerro Rejoins Crowell & Moring
August 18, 2022 The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Recognizes 54 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Three Selected as Lawyer of the Year
June 1, 2022 Chambers USA 2022 Ranks 70 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 37 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 18, 2022 Chambers Ranks Seven Crowell Practice Groups and 13 Lawyers in 2022 Global Guide
January 27, 2022 Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Group Named a Law360 Practice Group of the Year
August 19, 2021 The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Recognizes 53 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, One Selected as Lawyer of the Year
May 20, 2021 Chambers USA 2021 Ranks 63 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 30 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
February 23, 2021 Chambers Ranks Three Practice Groups and Ten Lawyers in 2021 Global Guide
August 20, 2020 The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Recognizes 46 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Two Selected as Lawyer of the Year
April 23, 2020 Chambers USA 2020 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 19, 2020 Chambers Ranks Four Practice Groups and Seven Lawyers in 2020 Global Guide
December 6, 2019 Preliminary Injunction Granted Against U.S. Government in Solar Energy Tariff Case
September 20, 2019 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 16, 2019 The Best Lawyers in America 2020 Recognizes 49 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Three Selected as Lawyer of the Year
April 29, 2019 Chambers USA 2019 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 11, 2019 Crowell & Moring Expands International Trade and Global Employment Practices with Four Senior Lawyers; CMI Breaks New Ground in Shanghai
October 15, 2018 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 15, 2018 The Best Lawyers in America 2019 Recognizes 38 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
May 9, 2018 Chambers USA 2018 Ranks 52 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 24 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 23, 2018 Chambers Ranks Eight Lawyers and Six Practice Groups in 2018 Global Guide
October 31, 2017 Super Lawyers Recognizes 79 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
October 31, 2017 The Best Lawyers in America 2018 Recognizes 40 Crowell & Moring Lawyers
May 26, 2017 Chambers USA 2017 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 23 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 22, 2017 Chambers Ranks Nine Lawyers and Five Practice Groups in 2017 Global Guide
November 30, 2016 Super Lawyers Recognizes 71 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 18, 2016 The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Recognizes 38 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
May 27, 2016 Chambers USA Ranks 56 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 24, 2016 Chambers Ranks Nine Attorneys and Four Groups in 2016 Global Guide
January 12, 2016 Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts and International Trade Groups Named Law360 2015 "Practice Groups of the Year"
October 27, 2015 Super Lawyers Recognizes 90 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
August 25, 2015 The Best Lawyers in America 2016 Recognizes 39 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
May 19, 2015 Chambers USA Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 20 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
January 13, 2015 Crowell & Moring Releases Third Annual Litigation Forecast Report and Inaugural Regulatory Forecast
September 30, 2014 Super Lawyers 2014 Recognizes 90 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
August 28, 2014 The Best Lawyers In America 2015 Recognizes 40 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
July 1, 2014 25 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2014
May 23, 2014 Chambers USA Ranks 51 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
September 3, 2013 The Best Lawyers In America 2014 Recognizes 41 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 1, 2013 26 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2013
May 24, 2013 Chambers USA Ranks 45 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
September 4, 2012 The Best Lawyers in America 2013 Recognizes 44 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 7, 2012 Chambers USA Ranks 45 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 18 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
August 30, 2011 The Best Lawyers in America 2012 Recognizes 43 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
August 3, 2010 The Best Lawyers in America 2011 Recognizes 44 Crowell & Moring Attorneys