Remembering Andrew Hupert I just learned that my dear friend, Andrew Hupert, passed away in October 2024 in Oaxaca, Mexico, where he had made his home in recent years. He was 61 years old. The news has left me reflecting on a remarkable friendship—one that spanned more than two decades and crossed several continents. I
2025 China Tariffs: Vietnam Pact Triggers New Era of Transshipment Crackdowns On July 2, 2025 (today), President Trump announced a new trade pact with Vietnam that sends a bold message. It is targeting any country—Vietnam included—that integrates Chinese components into its supply chain, however marginally. This development aligns with the broader trends we’ve been describing
In 2025, the DOJ's Criminal Division elevated trade and customs fraud to a top enforcement priority. Learn what this means for importers, including real risks, whistleblower incentives, and how to protect your company now
The China I Knew, the China That Is, and the China Yet to Come In 2000, if you were doing business in China, survival—let alone success—required being there. In person. In the factories. In the boardrooms. Because if you weren’t, your competitors were. China was booming, changing by the day, and for foreign companies in
Tariff Cheaters Beware: This Week’s $24 Million Wake-Up Call Earlier this week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Island Industries v. Sigma Corp that delivers a clear warning to companies attempting to evade U.S. trade duties: your competitors are watching, and the consequences of cheating can be staggering. This case highlights
Facing a Sinosure claim from China? Discover how our firm helps clients pay nothing, protect trademarks & shipments, and avoid blacklists. Get expert legal help now.
Discover how to identify sourcing agent fraud and fake manufacturers. Learn China factory verification techniques to avoid manufacturing agent scams costing millions in hidden markups.
Who Should Own Your Trademarks? When launching a business, registering a trademark in the countries where you operate (including where you manufacture) is often, and wisely, one of the first steps you as an entrepreneur will take to protect your brand. But a deceptively simple question quickly arises: Who should own the trademark? You as
China law on the internet is all wrong. It is no substitute for real legal advice. This blog's disclaimer states this, albeit more formally.
China Trademarks: The Goldilocks Principle of When to Register When it comes to China trademark registration, timing is everything. File too late, and someone else might beat you to your own brand. File too early, and you risk losing your trademark for non-use. Like Goldilocks, you need to get it just right. The Cautious Client:
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