Offering years of experience in customs and international trade law and a deep understanding of global supply chains

The Suarez Firm helps clients take the risk out of international commerce. After a dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy, importers have felt the pain of extra tariffs and uncertainty in their international business. The Suarez Firm helps clients understand what to expect next and to adjust their business transactions to minimize costs and mitigate the risk of penalties or other enforcement actions by customs authorities.

What Does the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Really Mean for Business?

12 December 2014
Categories: Anti-corruption, Customs & Trade Facilitation, News

On November 27, 2014, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was finally able to overcome an impasse created by India in July which prevented implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement reached in Bali in December 7, 2013. As described by WTO Director General (DG) Azevedo, “the impasse related to the political…

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Trade Facilitation Agreement Is Back On Track

3 December 2014
Categories: Customs & Trade Facilitation, News

Because of an impasse created by India over food security this past July, which prevented ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) reached in Bali in December 2013, some questioned the continued viability of the World Trade Organization. On Nov. 27, 2014, the WTO was finally able to…

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WTO Problems Won’t Stop Trade Facilitation

26 October 2014
Categories: Customs & Trade Facilitation, News

This article first appeared in Law360 and has been reprinted here with permission. World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevedo has offered little hope for overcoming the obstacle presented by India in blocking the protocol necessary to finalize the WTO trade facilitation agreement reached in Bali Dec. 7, 2013.[1] Meanwhile, there…

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What Trade Facilitation Is and Why It Matters

1 July 2014
Categories: Customs & Trade Facilitation, News

The majority of people have heard the old saying: “the early bird gets the worm.” Well, the same holds true for trade facilitation – and there are a few good reasons why. Trade facilitation creates a more efficient supply chain connectivity for improved international trading, builds economic and port infrastructure…

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Addressing Public Corruption is Fundamental to Trade Facilitation

14 March 2014
Categories: Anti-corruption, Customs & Trade Facilitation, News

With the finalization of a Trade Facilitation Agreement (“TFA”) at the conclusion of the 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, on December 7, 2013 (see: https://mc9.wto.org/system/files/documents/w8_0.pdf), the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) proved that it is not dead. Significantly, the TFA is the first WTO trade agreement concluded…

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