Highlights in International Trade and Commerce

The International Law Section of Williams Mullen prepared the following brief descriptions of selected issues in international trade and commerce for general information purposes and use by clients and friends of the firm.

Report on Plan to Double Exports Focuses on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The Export Promotion Cabinet ("EPC"), a high-level interagency task force established by an Executive Order in March, has issued a report detailing its plans for doubling U.S. exports in the next five years. The National Export Initiative is focused on eight areas: increasing advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters, bringing more U.S. sellers and foreign buyers together, expanding small business export engagement and success, increasing access to export financing, reinforcing efforts to remove trade barriers, stepping up enforcement of trade rules and promoting policies internationally that will lead to strong, sustainable and balanced world economic growth. The EPC's recommendations include: focusing advocacy, promotion and financing efforts on small and medium-sized enterprises; improving the federal government's trade promotion programs with an emphasis on federal export assistance, trade missions, and increasing export credit; ensuring global economic recovery and growth; reducing barriers to trade and enforcing trade obligations; and focusing more promotion efforts on the export of services. The full report can be found here

The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act Envisions New Registration Requirement

The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act, H.R. 4678, is awaiting consideration by the "lame duck" House when it reconvenes on November 15. Partly in response to several recent recalls of imported goods, the bill would prohibit the importation of consumer products, pharmaceutical products and chemicals into the United States unless the foreign manufacturer of such products has a registered agent in the United States. A registry of these agents would be maintained so that U.S. consumers would be able to pursue products liability or other civil actions against such imports. Foreign companies and importers have opposed the legislation, saying it unfairly increases selling costs and violates World Trade Organization rules, by creating a non-tariff barrier discriminating between U.S. and foreign manufacturers. Proponents, however, counter that the bill would both protect U.S. consumers by holding foreign producers...