Overview
Course Project Overview:
The Course Project is completed in two phases. Phase I, focusing on evaluating international trade opportunities and challenges. Phase II, builds on your initial analysis by proposing solutions and legal strategies.
In this project, you will assume the role of a legal or compliance consultant advising a U.S. based company on how to navigate international legal operations involved in both exporting and importing goods.
Phase I Assignment Instructions:
Write a professional memo to the executive leadership team of a U.S. based company you select. The memo should address the following eight components:
Part A: Company and Transaction Details
- Company Profile
- Identify an existing company headquartered in the United States.
- Provide a brief history of the company, its global operations (if any), and its product line.
- Export Scenario
- Select one product that the company currently produces.
- Identify a foreign country to which the company is considering exporting this product.
- Explain why this country is a strategic choice (e.g., market demand, trade agreements).
- Import Scenario
- Select one product that the company is considering importing into the U.S.
- Identify the country where that product is manufactured.
- Explain the business rationale for the import.
Part B: Legal and Regulatory Considerations
- International Law vs. Domestic Law
- Identify and explain at least two key legal or regulatory challenges related to the export and import transactions.
- Clearly distinguish how these issues differ from domestic commercial law.
- Treaties and Legal Instruments
- Discuss the relevant international treaties or trade agreements that affect these transactions (e.g., WTO rules, bilateral trade agreements).
- Explain how these differ from domestic statutes that regulate business transactions.
- Role of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Identify at least one way the WTO influences or regulates trade involving the selected countries (e.g., tariff schedules, dispute settlement, or subsidies).
- Discuss how the WTO’s role impacts your company’s import/export plans.
- Application of the CISG
- Assume the export transaction is governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
- Explain how the CISG modifies or replaces domestic contract law principles for this transaction (e.g., offer/acceptance, risk of loss, remedies).
Part C: Professional Roles in International Trade
- Career Connection
- Identify at least one career role (e.g., trade compliance specialist, customs broker, international lawyer) involved in ensuring legal compliance for this scenario.
- Briefly describe this professional’s responsibilities in the import/export process.
Your finished project must be at least three pages, and no specific style format is required; however, if outside sources are used, please adhere to APA Style when creating citations and references for this assignment.