The venerable Mimi Whitefield of the Miami Herald is reporting that 2012 was a record-breaking year for international trade in the Miami Customs District with $124.73 billion worth of trade being exchanged. According to Whitefield, Miami district exports increased to a record $73.3 billion, up nearly 6 percent from the previous year, and imports totaled a record $51.4 … [Read more...]
Have a Legal Dispute in Asia? Singapore is the Place to Resolve it.
I'm a big advocate for doing business in Singapore. Year after year, it's ranked as the easiest country in the world to start a business. Singapore is also the third richest country in the world, ranking behind only Qatar and Luxembourg. A big part of Singapore’s success is rooted in its modern legal system. The legal system in Singapore has received global recognition for … [Read more...]
Why Your 3PL Contract Should Match Your RFP.
I work with a variety of business clients that have their own logistics departments to coordinate their international shipping operations. For many companies, however, having an in-house logistics department can really put a dent in a company's bottom line. That's why third party logistics providers or 3PLs have become so valuable. In selecting a 3PL, a company (the … [Read more...]
Why You Should Include INCOTERMS in Your International Contracts.
I received an email from a client in Brazil last week about an important international trade deal involving a buyer in the United Arab Emirates. The issue was that Company Y in Brazil was negotiating a contract with Company X in Dubai but was unclear how a key transportation term in the contract should be defined. The problem was easily worked out by incorporating INCOTERMS … [Read more...]
How to Draft an International Manufacturing Contract.
The other day I got a call from a company requesting my assistance in structuring an international manufacturing agreement. While the majority of my cases are centered on international litigation or arbitration, I get a big thrill out of structuring international business contracts. Doing international transactional work allows me to get an inside look at the business side of … [Read more...]