Roger Banks is a Consulting Counsel in our International Trade and Customs Practice.  He has extensive experience representing and advising clients affected by laws governing imports and exports.  His experience includes litigating unfair trade cases (antidumping, countervailing duty, “safeguards,” and others) and challenging rulings by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other agencies.  He advocates on behalf of importers and exporters subject to enforcement actions and advises them on compliance with import and export regulations.

Recently, Mr. Banks has successfully petitioned the U.S Trade Representative at the White House, obtaining exemptions from special tariffs imposed by executive order; and has assisted exporters in complying with sanctions imposed on Russia. He has also provided advice to a U.S. business required to respond to an audit questionnaire issued by the Mexican import authority.

Mr. Banks has also served as Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Law School, where he taught a two-semester course in legal writing and oral advocacy.

Representative Experience

  • Successful petition before the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), winning exclusion for client’s imports from 25% tariffs imposed on Chinese imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act (2018-present). 
  • Provide advice and representation in international trade matters, including enforcement actions by U.S. agencies, and compliance with regulations governing imports and exports. 
  • Wheat Gluten.  On behalf of U.S. wheat processing industry, obtained order signed by the President of the United States to curtail surge of imports.
  • Ceramica Regiomontana v. United States. In U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, succeeded in having lower court and federal agency decisions reversed in international trade litigation.
  • Inner Secrets / Secretly Yours v. United States. U.S. Court of International Trade reversed U.S. Customs’ classification of imported merchandise and ordered it to be reclassified as we had advocated.

Publications and Speeches

  • “Safeguarding Producers,” Journal of Commerce (July 26, 2010)
  • “Full Harbor Funding,” Journal of Commerce (August 3, 1998)
  • “Section 201 Safeguards Action: An Anomaly Or New Trend In Import Relief.”  Speech at the Annual Convention of American Exporters and Importers

Civic Involvement

  • Obtained protective order in D.C. Superior Court on behalf of indigent victim of violence.
  • Successfully appealed SSI disability ruling on behalf of disabled indigent client.

Languages

  • Italian

Education

Cornell Law School, J.D.

  • ABA Award for Academic Excellence

Rutgers College, Rutgers University, B.A.

  • magna cum laude
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Previous Experience

  • Baker & Hostetler, Of Counsel
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Associate

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade

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