International Trade and Customs Counsel in Houston

James Garcia advises Chinese manufacturers, exporters, and trading companies on US import and export compliance, customs valuation, and trade enforcement matters from Stephenson Fournier in Houston.

With 20 years of experience in international trade law, James focuses on the complex regulatory environment facing Chinese companies exporting goods to the United States. He counsels clients on tariff classification, customs valuation, forced labour detention orders, Section 301 tariffs, export control licensing, and compliance with the regulations of the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and US Customs and Border Protection.

Practice Focus

• ⚖️ US Customs compliance — tariff classification under HTSUS, customs valuation methodologies, country of origin marking, and forced labour detention order response
• 📜 Export controls — EAR classifications, deemed export licensing, and compliance with BIS regulations for Chinese-origin technology transfers
• 🛡️ Trade remedy proceedings — antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, scope reviews, and new shipper reviews affecting Chinese exporters
• 💼 Section 301 tariff mitigation — exclusion requests, drawback claims, and supply chain restructuring for affected Chinese goods
• 🌐 OFAC sanctions compliance — sanctioned-party screening, license applications, and voluntary self-disclosures

Working Method

James begins every engagement with a supply chain audit to identify the regulatory touchpoints affecting his client's goods. He maps each product's tariff classification, valuation method, country of origin, and applicable trade agreements, then identifies compliance gaps and mitigation strategies.

For Chinese companies facing US Customs enforcement actions, James manages the full administrative process — from responding to Customs Form 28 requests and penalty notices through prior disclosure filings and CBP ruling requests. He coordinates with Chinese in-house counsel and freight forwarders to maintain accurate documentation throughout the import cycle.

Local Practice in Houston

Houston is a strategic location for international trade practice. The Port of Houston is one of the busiest in the United States, and the city is home to a large concentration of Chinese trading companies, energy firms, and logistics providers. James's practice at Stephenson Fournier benefits from close access to the Houston CBP Field Office and the US Court of International Trade litigators who regularly appear in Gulf Coast trade disputes.

Professional Standards

James maintains active memberships in the Customs and International Trade Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Houston International Trade Association. He publishes regular updates on US trade policy changes affecting Chinese importers. Fee arrangements and regulatory timelines are confirmed at engagement outset, with milestone-based reporting throughout each matter.

Typical Client Matters

James handles a steady volume of Customs and Border Protection detention notices affecting Chinese-manufactured goods. When CBP issues a detention order based on suspected forced labour under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, James manages the full response — preparing the importer attestation, compiling supply chain documentation, engaging with CBP's Forced Labor Division, and pursuing release of the detained merchandise. He has successfully secured release for goods from multiple Chinese manufacturing sectors.

On the export control side, James advises Chinese technology companies on the classification of their products under the Export Administration Regulations, including whether items are subject to multilateral export control regimes such as the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime. He prepares commodity jurisdiction requests to resolve jurisdictional disputes and assists with deemed export licensing for Chinese-origin engineers working in US facilities.

For Chinese companies facing antidumping or countervailing duty investigations, James coordinates with Chinese counsel on the preparation of the Chinese government response, section A questionnaire responses, and verification preparation. He also advises on new shipper reviews for Chinese companies that did not export during the original period of investigation.

Building an Effective Trade Compliance Program

James recommends that every Chinese exporter to the US market implement a structured trade compliance program. Key elements include internal classification procedures for both HTSUS and EAR, restricted-party screening against the Entity List and Denied Persons List, recordkeeping protocols under the Customs Modernization Act, and designated compliance officer responsibility.

Approach to Trade Compliance Matters

James takes a practical, risk-based approach to trade compliance. He helps clients understand their regulatory exposure without over-engineering compliance programs that exceed their actual risk profile. For a Chinese manufacturer exporting consumer goods to the United States, the compliance program will look different from that of a Chinese technology company transferring software to a US subsidiary. James calibrates his advice to the specific products, supply chains, and transaction volumes involved.

When urgent issues arise such as a Customs detention notice or an export license denial, James prioritizes the immediate response while developing a longer-term strategy to address the underlying compliance gap. He maintains relationships with CBP officers at the Port of Houston and with BIS officials in Washington, enabling him to obtain informal guidance on novel compliance questions when formal rulings would take too long.

Why Clients Choose to Work with This Office

Clients choose this practice because the team delivers clear, commercially focused guidance that reflects a genuine understanding of the international business environment. Every engagement begins with a detailed consultation to understand the client\u2019s specific objectives, risk tolerance, and timeline. Throughout the relationship, the team maintains open communication and provides practical recommendations that address both the legal requirements and the underlying business goals. This approach has earned the trust of a growing number of international clients seeking reliable counsel in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.