Hjelm and Borkovic Discuss Dynamics of International Trade with Corporate Counsel Business Journal

Lars-Erik Hjelm and Anne Borkovic, partners in Akin Gump’s international trade practice, were featured in the Corporate Counsel Business Journal article “Dynamic Change Roils International Trade Waters.” Hjelm, who focuses on customs and import controls efforts, and Borkovic, who works primarily on export controls and anti-money laundering actions, discuss some of the many issues affecting international trade this year.

Hjelm began by addressing what he expects to see in the areas of manufacturing and supply chain management, noting that it is a “dynamically changing” field. “The aggressive deployment of seldomly used trade and tariff laws, all within the context of protecting American industry and seeking concessions from trading partners,” he said, “have created on many levels a coherent trade and tariff policy and a state of flux.”

Borkovic then spoke of how clients are shifting the way they develop compliance programs and designing automated workflows. She also talked about the audits and enforcement activities she is seeing among federal agencies, which she said continue to focus “on national security risks and ensuring that private sector entities understand the importance of compliance and generally act as a trusted partner.”

Finally, the two described how they are advising clients in their respective areas.

Hjelm said importers need to be mindful of the fact that they could be audited “at any time.” They should prepare “for the possibility of an audit by reviewing their compliance programs and conducting … a self-assessment.”

Borkovic spoke of how she is focused “on innovating the internal investigation process to better and more efficiently reconcile and analyze data across different systems and functions within the client.”

To read the full article, pleasea click here.