News

Debate Concerning Renewal of African Growth and Opportunity Act Has Begun

Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Categories: Africa & Emerging Markets, News

BY: EVELYN M. SUAREZ AND SINGLETON B. MCALLISTER

file2701271716451Signed into law by President Clinton on May 18, 2000 and subsequently expanded, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a unilateral system of trade preferences that allows thousands of types of goods produced in Sub-Saharan Africa to be imported duty-free to the United States.

AGOA is widely perceived to be a success, albeit a limited one. From 2001 to 2011, the aggregate amount of exports from Africa to the United States under AGOA increased from $8 billion to $54 billion; the number of countries participating grew from 34 to 40; and the number of countries exporting nonenergy products increased from 13 to 22. American officials describe AGOA as the “cornerstone” of U.S. trade policy with Africa.

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Global Trade Update: What’s in Store for African Economies

Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Categories: Africa & Emerging Markets, International Trade Law & Policy, News, Speaking Engagements

Evelyn Suarez will be speaking on the Global Trade Update panel as part of the South Africa
Investment Forum, taking place in Capetown, South Africa, from December 3rd through the 4th.

A number of significant developments are currently underway which are likely to shape the rules for
global trade in the 21st century:

The U.S. and European Union, which together represent close to half of global GDP, have
launched negotiations on a “Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership” or T-TIP, which is
expected to set standards in such areas as:

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After the Broken Broker: Protecting the Honest Broker Presented by the Customs Brokers & International Freight Forwarders Association of Virginia, Inc.

Thursday, November 21, 2013
Categories: Customs & Trade Facilitation, News, Speaking Engagements

The Customs Brokers & International Freight Forwarders Association of Virginia, Inc. invites you to attend its monthly meeting and luncheon.

Evelyn Suarez will give a presentation entitled, “After the Broken Broker: Protecting the Honest Broker Presented by the Customs Brokers & International Freight Forwarders Association of Virginia, Inc.”

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DOJ & SEC Release Long Awaited FCPA Guidance

Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Categories: Anti-corruption, News

BY: EVELYN M. SUAREZ & J. FORBES THOMPSON

On November 14, 2012, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released the much anticipated guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) entitled A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“Guide”). The Guide was created at least in part to respond to the OECD criticism that U.S. anti-corruption efforts could be improved by providing a consolidated presentation of public information on the application of the FCPA and enhancing awareness by small and medium-sized companies about the prevention and detection of foreign bribery.

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