By John H. Kester The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) on Monday announced an interim final rule (“IFR”) stating that any entity that is at least 50 percent owned by one or more entities on the Entity List or the Military End-User List (“MEU List”), directly or indirectly, individually or […]
By GKG Law GKG Law last month was the only law firm member of the Department of Commerce sponsored U.S. Business Delegation to the Middle Corridor, a week-long trade mission to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia that brought together U.S. trade and logistics companies with their regional counterparts and high-ranking government officials. The mission was organized […]
This week, the D.C. Circuit struck down the section of the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”) Final Rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Practices (the “Final Rule”) that limited the parties to whom detention and demurrage invoices could be issued. On September 23, 2025, the D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in World Shipping Council v. FMC, which […]
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 […]
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 […]