Trade Policy, WTO & Market Access

Complex Trade Environment

Exporting, importing, and investing in the global market are a necessity for successful businesses and a national economic priority for governments around the world. Actions in Washington, Geneva, Tokyo, and Brussels are felt in Beijing, Brasilia, and Delhi and vice versa. The rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trade and investment agreements, combined with individual countries' domestic laws, regulations, and policies, significantly affect, and often determine, the success of efforts by companies, industries, and governments to attain their objectives around the world. International organizations, including financial institutions and standard-setting bodies, add a further layer of complexity to global commerce. These organizations interact with government policies and have a significant impact on corporate growth strategies, as well as the trade and economic agendas of governments.

To be fully effective in the global marketplace, private entities and governments must comprehend and profit from the nexus of global, regional, and bilateral rules of commerce and investment; domestic laws, regulations, and policies; and the influence of international institutions.  Our team understands these complex sets of rules, policies, and interests. We bring our multidisciplinary experience in economics, politics, and cross-cultural communication in order to help our clients effectively navigate the global market, where the competition is fierce and the stakes are high.

Our Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access group provides legal and policy advice, negotiation and litigation strategies and representation, and foreign and domestic government affairs and stakeholder advocacy to clients that aggressively pursue their positions in the global market.  Whether our client is a company seeking to expand its market presence in the United States or other countries; a government negotiating or implementing a trade, investment, or international economic agreement; or a corporation, industry, or government embroiled in a trade dispute or trade-related litigation, Miller & Chevalier offers creative strategies and solutions to secure favorable results.

Broad Trade Policy Experience

Members of Miller & Chevalier's Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice have broad-based experience representing corporations, trade associations, non-governmental organizations, and governments. We offer substantial depth and breadth in the full range of trade policy matters, including:

• Bilateral and regional trade and investment agreement negotiations;
• WTO negotiations;
• International trade litigation, including WTO, NAFTA, and other bilateral disputes, and U.S. trade remedy proceedings;
• Market strategies in the U.S. and other key markets; and
• Advice regarding U.S. legislation and regulation.

In addition, to help clients identify and advance their international trade and investment objectives, the Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice is integrated with other relevant practice areas of the firm, including:

• Antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard remedies;
• Global customs and import compliance;
• Export controls, economic sanctions, and national security related investment reviews;
• Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) and related compliance issues;
• International and domestic taxation;
• International and domestic government contracting; and
• Litigation.

Due to our breadth, depth, and overall reputation for excellence, Miller & Chevalier is continually ranked among the top international trade practices by Chambers USA and Chambers Global. Our team includes a veteran group of skilled professionals who draw on their senior government and private practice experience to achieve clients' objectives.

Members of the Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice combine decades of government service with experience developed in private practice to provide unequalled service to clients. Our knowledge and experience allow us to achieve client objectives in five core areas:

WTO Negotiations

Miller & Chevalier has extensive experience in WTO negotiations, including accession negotiations. Members of the Trade Policy practice have been involved in negotiating agreements under WTO auspices on behalf of member governments, governments seeking membership, industries, and companies. The group's experience has been developed through decades of service in government and private practice.

Our experience extends to all major negotiations over the past twenty years, including:

• Negotiations taking place under the WTO Doha Development Agenda;
• The accessions to the WTO of China and Taiwan;
• The Information Technology Agreement within the WTO; and
• The Uruguay Round agreements that created the WTO and its dispute settlement mechanism.

Bilateral and Regional Trade and Investment Agreements

Members of our Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice have deep experience regarding free trade agreements (FTAs) and other bilateral trade and investment agreements. Our experience includes negotiating and implementing:

• The U.S. - Bahrain FTA;  
• The U.S. - Canada FTA;  
• The U.S. - Chile FTA;
• The U.S. - Colombia FTA;
• The U.S. - Dominican Republic Central America FTA (DR-CAFTA);
• The U.S. - Israel FTA;
• The U.S. - Jordan FTA;
• The U.S. - Malaysia FTA (suspended);
• The U.S. - Morocco FTA;
• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
• The U.S. - Panama FTA;
• The U.S. - Peru FTA;
• The U.S. - Singapore FTA;
• The U.S. - South Korea FTA; and
• The U.S. - Thailand FTA (suspended).

Furthermore, we have negotiated or been directly involved in numerous bilateral sectoral and product-specific trade agreements, including:

• The Information Technology Agreement within the WTO;
• The U.S. - Japan Insurance Agreement;
• The U.S. - Japan Semiconductor Agreement;
• The U.S. - Canada Softwood Lumber Agreements; and
• The U.S. - Canada Agreement on Magazines/Periodicals.

Our team has also been directly involved in negotiating other types of agreements, including bilateral investment treaties, standards, and government procurement-related agreements. Our experience across the spectrum of international trade allows us to provide guidance on almost any issue that may arise during negotiations. Our professionals have represented corporations; industries, including agriculture, services, and manufacturers; and governments, including including Canada, the Dominican Republic, Morocco, and Taiwan.

International Trade Litigation, including WTO and Bilateral Disputes, and U.S. Trade Remedy Proceedings

Miller & Chevalier has litigated hundreds of international trade and investment disputes, including many of the largest and most significant disputes to date. Our efforts have helped clients achieve their goals in the United States and around the world. We have opened markets for clients' products and helped them obtain relief from anti-competitive practices.

Members of the practice have represented governments and private interests in disputes before various international fora, including:

• WTO dispute settlement panels and the WTO Appellate Body (and, before the creation of the WTO, GATT panels);
• NAFTA panels and Extraordinary Challenge Committees; and
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) arbitral tribunals.

Our team has extensive WTO dispute settlement experience. Members of the practice have represented clients in more than 40 WTO disputes. Our experience extends to a wide range of sectors -- including agriculture, intellectual property, and services -- and major industrial sectors such as aerospace, automobiles, film, footwear, forest products, leather, semi-conductors, steel, and textiles and apparel.

The Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice also has deep experience with regard to U.S. trade remedy proceedings, including antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguard, market disruption (China-specific safeguard), and other proceedings. We have represented clients in hundreds of cases in all relevant U.S. fora, including:

• U.S. federal courts at every level, including the Court of International Trade, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court;
• The U.S. Department of Commerce; and
• The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Foreign and U.S. Market Strategies

Our primary focus is helping clients develop and implement strategies to compete in target markets.  While in positions with the government, members of our team negotiated numerous market access initiatives on behalf of the United States.  These included industry sector initiatives, FTAs and preference programs, and multilateral trade agreements.  In private practice, we have drawn on this experience to develop and implement market expansion strategies in the United States and other markets for companies and industries, in addition to advising foreign governments.  We help clients better understand the legal, regulatory, and policy environment of target markets.  In situations in which a client already has entered a market, we work to enhance the conditions of competition or the environment for investment and trade.  We counsel and advocate regarding relevant trade and investment agreements and negotiations; programs, policies, and standards of international institutions; and laws, regulations, and policies of the United States and other relevant governments.  If litigation cannot be avoided, we aggressively pursue client interests in the proper forum, be it domestic or international.  Where advisable, we team with local law firms to enhance client service.

U.S. Legislation and Regulation

Our Trade Policy, WTO and Market Access practice includes seasoned government affairs professionals with substantial experience in developing and implementing legislative and regulatory strategies to help clients meet their objectives in the United States and around the world. We provide the full range of government affairs services, including drafting legislation, influencing Congressional decision-making, representing clients in Executive Branch rulemaking and policy development, and coordinating the Executive Branch's response to foreign government actions that are adverse to client interests in the United States or abroad.