Christopher F. Corr

Of Counsel, Beijing, Washington, DC

Biography

“Christopher Corr receives praise from clients… he is a “top-drawer trade lawyer” who impresses with his international commercial know-how and regulatory understanding.”, “always willing to support us in an effective and timely manner,”; “his recommendations and support are always very valuable, helpful and satisfactory.” Clients consider him to be “super smart and broad in his experience.”; “He is meticulous, not missing any details. When he talks, people listen.”;“His ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is unmatched.”
Who's Who Legal: China Trade & Customs 2020/ Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020, 2021/ Chambers Global 2019 / Chambers Greater China 2024

Overview

Award winning counselor Christopher F. Corr has been practicing international trade law for over 35 years, helping clients navigate cross-border trade regulations and disputes with a focus on Asia. He has lived and worked in Washington DC, Tokyo, Bangkok and Beijing.

Chris concentrates on international trade, competition, IP and other regulatory matters.

Chris works closely with sovereign and private sector clients in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Canada on international trade, competition and IP matters. He also counsels US companies engaged in international commerce. He has served as counsel in numerous high-profile cases concerning semiconductors, computers and other electronics, steel products, auto parts, lumber, seafood, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and technology transfer, as well as in the negotiation of government-to-government agreements. Chris was lead counsel in one of the first NAFTA panel dispute resolution cases, and has successfully argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the US Court of International Trade.

He also has worked for the Office of Unfair Import Investigations of the ITC, for the International Division of the US Chamber of Commerce, and for the Humane Society Office of General Counsel.

Chris is recognized by international legal publications as a leading international trade practitioner. Cited by The Legal 500 Asia, Pacific as a "renowned" trade litigation practitioner, clients have described him as "knowledgeable and experienced" and "a dedicated, proactive advisor". He has been recommended by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Asia - Pacific, Chambers Greater China Region, the International Who's Who of Trade & Customs Lawyers, and the Guide to the World's Leading International Trade Lawyers. He is the four-time sole winner, in China, of the International Law Office Client Choice Award in the Trade & Customs category. Chris was also named recipient of the Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Writing for his article "Self-defeating: Export Controls Imperil Cross-Border M&A".

Bars and Courts
Pennsylvania State Bar
District of Columbia Bar
US Court of International Trade
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and District of Columbia Circuit
Education
JD
George Washington University Law School
BA
Pennsylvania State University
Languages
English

Experience

Export control and sanctions rules of the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including compliance, licensing and enforcement, with a focus on technology controls.

Trade Remedy Proceedings including antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard actions before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US Department of Commerce, as well as related appellate litigation before US Federal Courts.

Customs matters, including enforcement, compliance, classification, valuation, country of origin marking and GSP and other duty preference programs, with a special focus on EAPA proceedings.

Section 337 investigations before the ITC and related customs entry issues. 

International competition and antitrust matters, including US criminal and civil actions, and merger review and compliance matters under China's Antimonopoly Law (AML).

OECD Anti-bribery Convention and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance.

World Trade Organization (WTO) rules governing goods, services, investment and intellectual property (IP), as well as related dispute resolution panel proceedings.

National security controls on investment in US entities administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Department of Defense.

Other regulatory matters including, food, medicine and product safety.

Speaking Engagements

"Navigating the evolving trade, economic sanctions and export control environment", White & Case 18th Annual Taiwan Roundtable Series, September 2023

"Global FDI Trends, Export Control and Trade Issues", White & Case 15th Annual Taiwan Legal Symposium 2020 - Autumn Webinar Series, September 2020

"Dialogue Conference Limiting Risk of Origin Fraud and Trade Remedies in Export Activities", Vietnam’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOIT), Hanoi, December 2019

"The US-China Trade War: Advice for Companies Caught in the Middle" – "Risks and Risk Management for Exporters Using China-Origin Parts", White & Case Taiwan Symposium, Hsinchu and Taipei, Taiwan, September 2019

"Weathering the Storm: Investment and Supply Chain Strategies for a Volatile International Trade", Cross-border Trends Relevant to Taiwanese Investors and Companies Environment Conference, Taipei Taiwan, July 2018

"The Impact of Trump's Policies on Regional Integration" and panelist "Roundtable : Taiwan's Strategies for Economic Integration in the New Global Context", June 2017: 2017 Regional Economic Integration for Service Industries in the Asia-Pacific Forum, Taipei

"A Tale of Trump, Trade Tension and Two FTAs in 2017", June 2017 : Morgan Stanley conference "Inflation: The New Old Normal?", Tokyo

"Trump, Trade Trouble and Taiwan", Taiwan's cross-border opportunities amid global change, June 2017: Taipei, Taiwan

Webinar, "Preparing for US trade policy changes: 2017 and beyond", January 2017:

"Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): What General Counsel Need to Know", March 2016: 11th annual White & Case Spring Legal Symposium "Global Challenges and Transitions, Hsinchu and Taipei, Taiwan

Publications

Taiwanese companies in a world of "clubs" and "fences", December 2023

"China Establishes New Mechanism to Counteract "Unjustified" Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Measures", February 2021

"Managing the US-PRC "de-coupling" risks for Taiwanese exports", September 2020

"China Expands Export Controls for Certain Technologies", September 2020

New EU-Vietnam FTA Enters into Force, August 2020

"Realistic post-pandemic solutions for sustainable supply chains required", The Business Times, 8 June 2020

"Helping China-owned companies in Vietnam in the era of rising tariffs, changing rules, and increased enforcement", January 2020.

"Successful RCEP Conclusion in Sight despite India's Concerns", November 2019. 

"Global opportunities for Taiwanese companies and investors", September 2019.

"Risks and risk management for Taiwan exporters using China-origin parts", September 2019.

"The CPTPP Enters Into Force: What Does it Mean for Global Trade?", January 2019.

"How Asian exporters can navigate a volatile trading environment", The Asset (October 22, 2018)

It's Time for the US to Re-Engage with the TPP, Law360, March 20, 2018

"Trade Issues for Asia Business in 2017: A Look Beyond Headlines at TPP's Demise and Emerging RCEP Trade Agreement", Bloomberg Law International Trade Daily Bulletin, January 18, 2017

"The Struggles of Shipping Dual-Use Goods to China," China Business Review, January-February 2010

"What Compliance Counsels Need to Know about the Recently Published Implementing Rules and the Coke Decision under China's Anti-Monopoly Law," Bloomberg Law Reports, May 2009

"The Problem With New CFIUS Rules," Law 360, February 26, 2009

"The Wall Still Stands! Complying With Export Controls In the Post-Cold War, Post 9/11 Era," 25 Houston Journal of International Law, 441, 2003

"Six Attainable Objectives For Developing Countries at the Doha Ministerial Conference," The World Trade Brief, 2001

"Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't? The OECD Convention and The Globalization of Anti-Bribery Measures," 32 Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 1249, 1999

"Convergence and Opportunity: The WTO Government Procurement Agreement and US Procurement Reform," 18 New York Law School Journal of International and Comparative Law, 303, 1999

"Trade Protection in the New Millennium: The Ascendancy of Antidumping Measures," 18 Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business, 49, 1997

"A Survey of US Controls on Foreign Investment and Operations: How Much is Enough?" 9 American University Journal of International Law and Policy, 417, 1994

"Creation of an Antidumping Compliance Program," 3 International Legal Strategy, 36, 1994

"The Congressional Subpoena: Power, Limitations and Witness Protection," 6 Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law, 37, 1992

"The NME Import Regulation Dilemma: Two Proposals for a New Regulatory Approach," 12 North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation, 59, 1987

Awards and Recognition

Who's Who Legal: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR – Trade & Customs

Who's Who Legal: China Trade & Customs

International Who's Who of International Business Lawyers

Chambers Asia-Pacific

Chambers Greater China Region 

Chambers Global

Trade & Customs, ILO Client Choice Awards

International Who's Who of Trade & Customs Lawyers

Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading International Trade Lawyers