Client Alerts
U.S. Trade Representative Proposes Up to $1.5 Million Dollar Vessel Entrance Fee on Chinese Built Vessels Entering U.S. Ports and Phased Requirement to Export Increasing Percentage of U.S. Goods on U.S.-flagged, U.S.-operated and U.S.-built Vessels. Author: Rachel Amster Summary. On Friday, February 21, 2025, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a notice […]
Late Sunday evening, March 2, 2025, the Treasury Department announced that it is suspending the enforcement of the imposition of fines and penalties under the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) against U.S. Citizens and Domestic Reporting Companies. While the enforcement of the CTA will not be pursued against those reporting companies who do not file, compliance […]
Earlier this week the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Smith, et al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, et al., Case No. 6:24-cv-00336 (E.D. Tex.), stayed its preliminary injunction enjoining the reporting rules contained in the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”). Accordingly, and absent any changes between now and the […]
GKG Law Wins Major Victory for NVO Against Shipper Who Refused to Pay Detention and Demurrage Charges By John H. Kester GKG Law recently prevailed in an action brought against a non-vessel operating common carrier (“NVO”) before the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC” or the “Commission”) by a shipper alleging violations of the Shipping Act of […]
DOL Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule for Classifying Contractors and Employees The Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking comments regarding a proposed rulemaking that would make it more difficult for corporations and associations to classify some workers as independent contractors. The proposed rule would consider a number of factors in assessing workers’ roles, including whether […]
Client Alert
This year, 2022, may be the last year in which most aircraft acquisitions will qualify for 100% bonus depreciation. In order to qualify for 100% bonus depreciation, used aircraft and some new aircraft will need to be placed in service before the end of this year. Special rules, however, extend the placed-in-service deadline for many […]
The IRS announced in June and October of 2021, in Revenue Ruling 2021-11 and Revenue Ruling 2021-19, respectively, that alternative Standard Industry Fare Level (“SIFL”) rates can be used for the first half and second half of 2021 due to the COVID-19-related impacts on the standard SIFL rates. Generally, when business aircraft are made available […]
On December 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) implemented new export control restrictions on Cambodia. These actions come approximately one month after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Cambodian military […]
By: Kristine O. Little On August 4, 2021, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) opened an expedited inquiry into ocean carrier surcharges. Eight ocean carriers (CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, HMM, Matson, MSC, OOCL, SM Line, and Zim) have been asked to provide the FMC’s Bureau of Enforcement (BOE) with details about congestion or related surcharges that they have […]
Client Alert
GKG Law’s litigation team recently prevailed on behalf of an ocean shipper in a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission (Commission). The Commission affirmed the initial decision of the administrative law judge finding that the defendant, acting as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), had violated the Shipping Act of 1984. Litigation began in […]