Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Michael A. Capuzzi Trade Law is devoted exclusively to Customs and International Trade Law for both import and export legal and regulatory matters. Our firm provides representation and counsel to importers, exporters, air, ocean, rail, truck, and express consignment carriers, NVOCC's, freight forwarders and customs brokers, warehouse and logistics operators, and manufacturers. We serve all members of the International Trade community import/export supply chain.

Michael A. Capuzzi

Received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with a split minor in Chemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona - Tucson in 1988. He graduated from Whittier Law School- Los Angeles in 1991 receiving an American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law and High Achievement in International Law. In 1995, received both a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University with an Arizona Regents Graduate Scholarship and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird- The American Graduate School of International Management with an International Scholarship for High Achievement.

Mr. Capuzzi is licensed to practice law in Michigan, the District of Columbia and Illinois. He is licensed to practice in all courts dealing with international trade matters including: The United States Court of International Trade; The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; the United States Supreme Court as well as various Federal District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal. Mr. Capuzzi also holds a Customs Brokers License issued by the Department of the Treasury in 1998. Mr. Capuzzi has practiced Customs and International Trade Law since 1992 including holding a position as Senior International Trade Consultant for Tower Group International.

In order that we may provide a comprehensive trade law service portfolio, we offer a full breadth of services.

  • Classification and Valuation of Imported Merchandise under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) and Customs Laws
  • Special Tariff provisions - American Goods assembled abroad, Articles Exported for Repairs or Alterations, Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB's)
  • Customs Binding Ruling Letters for Imported Merchandise
  • County of Origin Determination and Marking of Imported Merchandise
  • Quotas and Visas
  • Copyright and Trademark Issues
  • Customs Protests, Petitions, and Liquidated Damage Case resolutions
  • Importer Compliance Reviews and Self Assessment Programs, Investigations and Audits
  • Importer and Customs Broker Post Entry Review and Correction
  • Customs/Trade Community Partnership Programs - C-TPAT
  • Policy and Procedure Manuals for Importers and Customs Brokers
  • NAFTA and other Preferential Duty Programs
  • Duty Drawback and Harbor Maintenance Fee Recovery
  • Establishment and Operation of Customs Bonded Warehouses and Container Freight Stations
  • Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Matters and Scope Determinations
  • Customs and International Trade Litigation
  • Requirements of Other Governmental Agencies (OGA) - the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Communication Commission, Fish and Wildlife Service, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, etc.  Compliance and Counseling
  • Export Licensing matters under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  Licensing determination for exported articles, Review of export operations and compliance issues, Principal Party In Interest responsibilities
  • Enforcement Activity under the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), formerly the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA). Enforcement actions under the EAR, Anti-Boycott Regulations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Convention on the International Sale of Goods, etc.
  • Preparation of The Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)

 

"Why do countries benefit from engaging in international trade? Why not be self-sufficient? The basic answer is that international trade allows each country to specialize in its comparative advantage goods, sell the excess, and purchase the necessary imports. All can benefit."

Lee, Susan and Christine Foster. "The Global Hand," Forbes, April 21, 1997, p.85-114.