Monitoring Trade Developments

orporate executives need to stay current with the numerous, complex, and overlapping U.S. and international trade regulations and policy developments that influence manufacturing, import, and export operations. ECS can provide corporate decision-makers with the information they need to make judgments in the fast-changing global marketplace. ECS can keep clients up to date on developments relating to: emerging Asia-Pacific and Western Hemisphere trade issues; important rules and regulations flowing from the implementation of the Uruguay Trade Round; changes to U.S. trade remedy laws; the expansion of trade with China; the opening up of Vietnam to U.S. business; and new export initiatives.

ECS’ trade monitoring service features a monthly newsletter tailored to specific industry interests.

SPECIAL TRADE PROGRAMS

ECS advises clients about changes to preferential or special trade agreement programs, particularly those affecting imports into the United States. These programs include: NAFTA; ongoing implementation of the Uruguay Trade Round agreements; U.S. duty-free treatment for developing countries under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program; production sharing arrangements commonly referred to as "807"; the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI); and the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone program. ECS staff members have particular expertise in the area of textile and apparel trade, having consistently practiced in this area for the past 25 years.

• ECS helped a U.S. company that is both a manufacturer and importer conduct a cost-benefit analysis of using one or more preferential trade programs in tandem with domestic manufacturing. This required analyzing the economics of co-producing the goods in Mexico or the Caribbean with U.S. fabricated components versus importing the goods from China, or, alternatively, a country that receives duty-free treatment in the U.S. under the GSP.

TRADE DATA

ECS can provide clients with detailed reports and analyses of import and export statistics in specific product areas. These reports can be augmented with other data sources that provide detailed information on shipments by port of entry, importer/exporter of record, and value of specific entries.