Trade Agreements

Companies can design their international supply chain to reduce customs duties and other expenses by sourcing goods originating in a Free Trade Area. The United States has trade agreements ranging from the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement ("USMCA") and the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic FTA ("CAFTA-DR") to bilateral agreements with South Korea, Australia, Chile, Singapore, Jordan, Israel, Moroco, Bahrain and other countries. Companies exporting to customers who may be seeking to claim preferences under these agreements must establish compliance systems to gather the necessary information and document the origin of their products. Similarly, importers need to have the required documentation or knowledge to support a claim for duty-free entry.

Barnes/Richardson lawyers have helped many companies establish and defend compliance systems for FTAs. This experience includes very complex programs including automotive rules of origin, averaging, fungible materials, and other details of the rules of origin. We have also worked with companies undergoing governmental verifications of the status of their goods. 

Apr. 24, 2023

Customs Makes Clear that Clearing UFLPA Detained Products Is Very (Very) Difficult

Jun. 15, 2021

Proposed USMCA Rule for Non-Preferential Origin Determinations

Mar. 23, 2021

Senate Confirms USTR and Commerce Heads

Feb. 15, 2021

President Biden Signs Made in America Executive Order

Feb. 9, 2021

Biden Signals Renewed Commitment to WTO with Nigerian Candidate for Director-General

Dec. 21, 2020

USMCA Labor Board Reports on Mexico Compliance

February 25, 2019

President Trump Delays Deadline for 301 Tariff Increase

May 1, 2018

232 Update: Exemptions Extended, Drawback Denied

September 14, 2017

NAFTA's Fourth Round of Negotiations Scheduled for Mid-October

July 3

USTR Requests U.S.-Korean Joint Committee to Review KORUS Agreement

June 2, 2017

President Trump Announces Withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

May 22, 2017

USTR Requests ITC Investigation into Economic Effects of NAFTA Agricultural Import Tariff Elimination

February 14, 2017

President Trump, Prime Minister Trudeau Meet to Discuss Potential NAFTA Modifications

January 24, 2017

President Trump Signed a Presidential Memorandum Withdrawing the U.S. from the TPP

Friday April 24, 2015

Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee Pass TPA, Customs Reauthorization, and GSP Bills

April 20, 2015

Senate Finance Committee Holds Open Executive Session on Four Trade Bills

April 15, 2015

USDA Agreement Expands Pork and Beef Exports to Peru and Mexico

February 5, 2015

USDEC Fights EU GI Policies

January 22, 2015

State of the Union Address and the President's Trade Agenda

January 14 , 2015

EU Study on ISDS

December 15, 2014

ITA Fails to Meet Deadline

November 18, 2014

Brussels Report on Restrictive Trade Measures

November 13, 2014

U.S. and India TFA Resolution

September 24, 2014

EU and Ecuador Free Trade Agreement Text Released

September 15,2014

South Korea's Involvement with the TPP

August 7, 2014

U.S. Concerns Regarding South Africa's Participation in the AGOA

August 6, 2014

U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit

April 11, 2014

Wyden Outlines Plan for TPA

March 10, 2014

White House Releases 2014 Trade Agenda

January 29, 2014

Obama Plugs Passage of TPA in State of the Union

January 28, 2014

U.S. Temporarily Lifts Certain Iranian Sanctions

October 22, 2013

U.S., E.U. Extend High-Quality Beef Agreement

October 04, 2013

White House Cancels 2nd Round of TTIP Negotiations

October 01, 2013

Government Shutdown Impacts International Trade Agencies

September 20, 2013

Obama: "Fast-Track" Authority Necessary to Complete Trade Agreements

June 20, 2013

Senate Confirms Froman as USTR

March 5, 2013

President Obama Emphasizes Multilateral Trade Talks in 2013 Trade Agenda

January 28, 2013

USTR Requests Comments on International Services Agreement

June 19, 2012

Canada Invited to Join TPP Negotiations

May 15, 2012

U.S. Colombia FTA Takes Effect

May 1, 2012

CBP Issues Filing Requirements for Colombia FTA Claims

December 16, 2011

WTO Revises Government Procurement Agreement

December 16, 2011

WTO Approves Russia's Membership

December 7, 2011

USTR Seeks Comments on Canada, Japan, and Mexico's Intent to Join TPP Negotiations, Undertakes 10th Round of TPP Negotiations

November 30, 2011

South Korean President Signs KORUS FTA

November 22, 2011

South Korea Passes KORUS FTA

November 15, 2011

TPP Leaders Announce Broad Outline of Agreement; Japan, Canada and Mexico Express Interest

January 20, 2020

USMCA: An Overview
By: Lawrence M. Friedman

May 4, 2017

BRC Partner Lawrence Friedman to Speak at Upcoming PERT Event

March 3, 2014

BRC Partner Quoted in Korean Orange Juice Investigation

June 18, 2013

Barnes/Richardson Attorney Authors Article on U.S.-EU Free Trade Agreement

May 5, 2008

Canada Adopts NAFTA Disassembly Rule

January 14, 2008

The Role of Trade in the 2008 Elections
By: Lawrence M. Friedman

October 12, 2007

NAFTA Certificates of Origin: Supporting Document Requirement
By: Lawrence M. Friedman

July 13, 2007

CBP Commissioners Speak on Cargo Security

May 1, 2007

Reducing Customs Duties: Strategies for Importers
By: Lawrence M. Friedman

January 11, 2007

Country Brief: Oman

January 11, 2007

Country Brief: Jordan

November 20, 2005

Country Brief: Morocco

March 17, 2005

Country Brief: Australia

November 19, 2004

Country Brief: Chile

November 18, 2004

Country Brief: Panama

November 18, 2004

Country Brief: Bahrain

May 1, 2004

"Who's Who" in Customs and International Trade Law
By: David G. Forgue

March 10, 2004

The U.S.-Singapore Free-Trade Agreement

November 19, 2004

Country Brief: Singapore

June 10, 2003

United States and Singapore Sign Free Trade Agreement
By: Lawrence M. Friedman

January 1, 2003

NAFTA Rules of Origin

Andean Pact CO

Carribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act CO

GSP Guidebook (February 2007)

H.R. 1830 - Andean Trade Preferences Extension

U.S. Preferential Trade Agreements and Programs Synopsis

Trade Deals Going South

CBP Memo on System Changes for US-Australia FTA

US-Australia FTA Implementation Information

US-Bahrain FTA Final Rule

US-Bahrain FTA Interim Rule

Guidance on MPF and Duty Preference Programs

2007 Customs Year in Review

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: DR-CAFTA for Dominican Republic

U.S.-Chile Sample CO

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Amendment to the U.S. Dominican Republic-Central America FTA

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Bahrain Free Trade Agreement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Chile Free Trade Agreement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: DR-CAFTA for Guatemala

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: DR-CAFTA for Honduras and Nicaragua

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Jordan Free Trade Agreement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Morocco Free Trade Agreement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Oman Free Trade Agreement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Implementation Instructions: Singapore Free Trade Agreement

WTO Proposal for Trade Liberalization in Environmental Goods

African Growth and Opportunities Act

WTO Antidumping Information

Canada and the NAFTA (Dep't of Foreign Affairs)

Dispute Settlement Under NAFTA

Investor-State Arbitrations under NAFTA

NAFTA Information (Canada Border Services Agency)

NAFTA Information (US)

NAFTA Secretariat

Organization of American States

U.S. Dep't of Commerce Trade Compliance Center

AGOA Info

Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement

Federal Revenue & Customs of Brazil

Free Trade Area of the Americas (Canadian)

Free Trade Area of the Americas (OAS)

Free Trade Area of the Americas (Official)

Guide to the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Southern Africa Trade Law Center

Trade Agreements Database

U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (Final Text)

U.S.-Bahrain FTA Final Text

U.S.-Bahrain FTA Resources

U.S.-Central America-Domincan Republic FTA USTR Resources

U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic FTA (Final Text)

U.S.-Chile FTA Final Text

U.S.-Chile FTA USTR Resources

U.S.-Colombia FTA Final Text

U.S.-Colombia FTA Resources

U.S.-Israel FTA Background

U.S.-Israel FTA Final Text

U.S.-Jordan FTA Final Text

U.S.-Jordan FTA Resources

U.S.-Korea Free Trade Resources

U.S.-Morocco FTA Final Text

U.S.-Morocco FTA Resources

U.S.-Panama FTA Resources

U.S.-Singapore FTA Final Text

U.S.-Singapore FTA USTR Resources

United Nations

USTR FTA Negotiations

World Trade Organization