On October 4, 2021, USTR Katherine Tai spoke to the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the future of the U.S. trade relationship with China.  Highlights of Ambassador Tai’s comments follow: The U.S. will restart a targeted China 301 tariff exclusion process to mitigate the effects of certain Section 301 tariffs that have not generated any strategic benefits and raised costs on Americans. Such an exclusion process (a time frame for which has not yet been announced) would...

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From out-of-touch U.S. ports, to trans-Atlantic bottlenecks, to guarding against supply chain cyberattacks, to power outages in China, to added air cargo capacity, we’re here to deliver the latest news in international shipping.  We’d be the first to say that data and information kept in silos is one of the biggest problems for supply chains. And, although the industry has made big improvements in this regard in the past few years, there’s still a lot of work to be done....

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The US dollar was driven higher in September by two main factors. The first was the anticipation of the Federal Reserve continuing to move toward tapering before the end of the year.  Investors have discounted one hike and part of a second one next year.  To be sure, the US is not leading the move away from maximum monetary stimulus.  Norway hiked rates last month, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will likely do so this month.     Not...

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On Wednesday, top EU and US officials attended the first meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, an effort designed to ensure that the West’s influence in technology and trade are maintained. The Representatives in attendance laid out plans to coordinate more closely on their response to emerging technologies and pressing trade threats. High-level commitments were made during the Council meeting to co-tackling burgeoning economic and security challenges. Challenges that include the regulation of artificial intelligence, easing of the semiconductor shortage...

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When individuals sign legal documents, including personal checks, contracts, tax returns, etc., they generally are not required to add any language explaining who they are. Their names alone satisfy the legal requirements for validating those documents. However, when those people are also officers of corporations or managers of partnerships or LLCs, they usually include their titles to establish themselves as representatives of those entities and not as individual signatories personally responsible for upholding the documents’ terms. Similarly, trustees signing legal...

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In closely-held businesses, a few unfortunate prospective events need to be addressed from the outset to be prepared when and if they occur.  What happens in the event of death, disability, retirement, or termination of one of the partners? At Cea Legal, our role as business attorneys is to share with our clients the automatic consequences of certain events unless dealt with in writing at the time of starting up the business and plan for an orderly transition. “In...

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Royal DSM, a global purpose-led, science-based company, announces its strategic decision to fully focus its resources and capabilities to address the urgent societal and environmental challenges linked to the way the world produces and consumes food. Consequently, DSM is simplifying its operating structure and reorganizing its Health, Nutrition & Bioscience activities into three Business Groups, each with clear opportunities to benefit the health of people and the health of the planet, underpinning DSM’s growth plans. At the same time,...

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The election to participate in the New York State Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) for the 2021 tax year is due by October 15, 2021. Earlier this year, the New York State Legislature enacted a new PTET that may provide individual investors in partnerships and S corporations with a valuable federal income tax benefit. Please see our previous guidance on that subject here. An authorized person can elect into the PTET on behalf of an eligible entity through the entity's New York State...

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The White House announced on September 20, 2021, that beginning in “early November” 2021, the Biden administration would remove restrictions on international travelers who are seeking to fly to the United States, provided that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This policy change will apply to all international travelers, including persons from countries currently covered by a regional travel ban. The policy change will provide substantial relief to international travelers seeking to enter the United States, including many business...

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