Industry Insights

“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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

As terminal operators and truckers try to process the weeks or months of backlogged cargo at West Coast ports, thieves are looking to grab low-hanging fruit. From 2013 to 2014, 25% of all recorded cargo theft in the United States occurred within 200 miles of the ports of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, according […]

Smaller logistics companies are having trouble keeping up with the boom in online commerce. While Asia looks at logistics as a prime opportunity for growth, developed nations, in particular the U.K., have seen a disruption in the traditional logistics sector that has led to the collapse of a record number of couriers and haulers. Even […]

  The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have struck a tentative agreement on a five-year contract that will cover workers at all U.S. West Coast ports. The details of the deal are being held in confidence while the agreement awaits ratification by both organizations, but they acknowledge that […]