INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
International Trade Law Articles
Customs classification, export controls, sanctions, and the compliance work that keeps cross-border business moving.
427 articles
How to Export Medical Devices: FDA Requirements
A medical device that is legally marketed in the United States can generally be exported freely; the harder cases are devices not yet cleared or approved by the …
How to Export Pharmaceuticals from the U.S.
Exporting pharmaceuticals from the United States is governed by three overlapping rulebooks: FDA rules on what drugs may leave the country, DEA rules for …
How to Export Products from the US: A Legal Guide
Exporting from the US comes down to three legal questions: what you are shipping, where it is going, and who is receiving it. Get those right and the rest is …
How to Export Raw Materials: U.S. Compliance Guide
To export raw materials legally from the United States, you do four things in order: classify the commodity, confirm whether an export license is required, …
How to Export Textiles: Origin and Labeling Rules
Exporting textiles is governed less by export controls than by classification, country-of-origin rules, and the labeling requirements of the country you are …
How to Export to Europe: A Compliance Guide
Exporting to Europe means meeting EU product rules before you ship and clearing EU customs when you arrive — the two places U.S. exporters most often get stuck. …
How to Export Toys: Safety, Licensing & Labeling
Exporting toys from the United States almost never requires an export license — most toys ship as EAR99 — but the shipment still has to satisfy U.S. …
How to Export Under Free Trade Agreements
Exporting under a free trade agreement lets your foreign buyer claim reduced or zero tariffs on your goods — but only if the goods qualify under the …
How to Export Using a Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder arranges the international movement of your goods — booking carriers, preparing transport documents, and often filing your export data — but …
How to Export Wine and Spirits: TTB Permits, Taxes & AES
Exporting wine and spirits from the United States turns on three things: the right TTB credential, the right federal excise tax treatment, and the destination …
How to Export With an Export License (EAR)
Most exports don’t need a license — but knowing which ones do, and getting the license when required, is where exporters get into trouble. Under the EAR, …
How to File a Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) Request
A commodity jurisdiction (CJ) request asks the U.S. government to decide whether your item is controlled by the ITAR or the EAR — and you file it with the State …
How to Import a Car Into the United States
Importing a car into the United States means satisfying three federal gatekeepers before the vehicle can be entered and registered: the Environmental Protection …
How to Import Agricultural Products: USDA Rules
Importing agricultural products means clearing the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) — usually before the goods leave the …
How to Import as a Small Business: Customs Basics
Importing as a small business means stepping into the legal role of “importer of record” — the party U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holds …
How to Import Chemicals: TSCA and EPA Compliance
To import chemicals into the United States, you must file a TSCA Section 13 import certification with U.S. Customs and Border Protection — certifying that each …
How to Import Clothing: Customs and Labeling Rules
To import clothing into the United States legally, you have to satisfy three sets of rules at the same time: customs (HTS classification, duties, and …
How to Import Cosmetics: FDA and MoCRA Rules
Importing cosmetics means meeting FDA requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the newer Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act …
How to Import Electronics: FCC and CPSC Rules
Importing electronics means satisfying federal product regulators — chiefly the FCC and the CPSC — before the goods can be marketed or entered. Almost any …
How to Import Food Products: FDA Rules
Importing food into the United States means clearing the FDA before the goods can enter — and the FDA’s rules apply on top of the customs entry, not …
