News & Insights

Several shipping associations with members operating in the Mediterranean Sea have sent a letter to the European Union regarding the increasing reliance on merchant ships to conduct human rescues of refugees fleeing violence in the Mideast and Africa. The petitioners include global merchant shipping operators and seafarer unions—the European Community Shipowners’ Associations, the European Transport Workers’ Federation, the International Chamber of Shipping, and the International Transport Workers’ Federation. Merchant ships rescued about 40,000 people in 2014, and the number this year is projected to rise substantially. Increasingly, ships are receiving hundreds of refugees, creating health and welfare risks to seafarers, […]

April 21, 2015

While many shippers, retailers and travel companies are intrigued by the prospects of developing opportunities in Cuba, it’s crucial to remember that the embargo remains in place. A memorandum from law firm Wiggin and Dana to the American Institute of Marine Underwriters summarizes the subject for the shipping industry. The U.S. government broadened exchange with Cuba, but the changes have little to do with cargo shipping at this point, and “[most] transactions between the United States, or persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and Cuba continue to be prohibited,” according to the U.S. Treasury. Additionally, the Office of Foreign Assets Control […]

April 10, 2015

Roanoke Trade is pleased to announce Indonesia as the world’s 75th member nation to join the international ATA Carnet network. This much anticipated trading partner of the U.S. will begin accepting and issuing ATA Carnets on May 15, 2015. As the world’s fourth most populous nation, Indonesia has become an economic leader in Southeast Asia. A secular state with strong political ties to the U.S., Indonesia is a magnet for U.S. industries specifically the energy and aerospace sectors. Heavy investments in aircraft, rail transport equipment, oil and gas have helped lead to double-digit growth in U.S. exports to Indonesia over the past five […]

April 09, 2015

“Facilitation payments” made to customs officers are common in some parts of the world, and, strictly speaking, they don’t violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). But there are complications. The Securities and Exchange Commission published guidance on the issue that states, “The FCPA does not apply to any ‘facilitating or expediting payment,’ the purpose of which is to expedite or secure the performance of a ‘routine governmental action.’” That includes common payments to ordinary officials in foreign countries to complete an action that was bound to be completed in the first place. That said, the SEC admonishes companies […]

March 30, 2015

Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and sanction programs are constantly changing. It can be challenging to navigate through the Office of Foreign Asset Control’s (OFAC) numerous pages of sanctions information and SDN (Specially Designated National) lists. But you must know how these regulations impact your shipments, and subsequently your business. In 2014 alone, 23 civil actions were taken against various companies for OFAC violations. The penalties totaled $1,209,000,000! A few examples are: A foreign subsidiary of a US company purchased briquettes made of Cuban-origin nickel. Settlement amount $2,057,000. A US company shipped audio and video equipment overseas, knowing the goods would be […]

March 26, 2015

When exporters undercut pricing on their goods to gain share in the marketplace, they put importers’ revenue in jeopardy. Anti-dumping laws in many countries around the world are enforced with harsh penalties, and importers have a major responsibility to ensure it isn’t happening. Currently there are multiple uproars over exporters that are using unfair pricing tactics to increase the attractiveness of their products. For example, in February Felman Production filed an anti-dumping petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission accusing an Australian metallurgical company of sending large and increasing volumes of low-priced siliconmanganese to the […]

March 20, 2015