Overview
Tom Trendl advises and advocates on behalf of foreign and domestic clients on regulatory and appellate international trade matters. His practice includes antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigations, reviews and appeals; WTO Agreement and NAFTA interpretations; Section 332 trade and competitiveness studies; and Section 201 "safeguard" investigations. Tom regularly practices before most major US trade forums, including the US Department of Commerce (DOC), US International Trade Commission (ITC), Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Court of International Trade (CIT), and Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC).
Over the last 30 years, Tom has represented clients in numerous AD/CVD investigations and administrative reviews. He counsels clients on effective implementation of company trade strategies in the context of international trade law, advises clients on the requirements and procedures of US trade law and compliance with such, assists clients in responding to US government agency requests for information, and advocates on behalf of clients before the relevant agencies and courts. Tom has led dozens of successful verifications for clients across the globe. This work has included both market and non-market economy (NME) cases for large multinationals and privately held companies.
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- US Court of International Trade
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 1989, with distinction, International & Comparative Law
- J.D., Southern Illinois University, 1988, Associate Editor, Southern Illinois University Law Review; Jessup International Moot Court Team
- University of Notre Dame, 1986, London Law Centre, Study in International Law
- B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University, 1985
Representative Matters
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Represented the UK Government Department of International Trade in the high profile US CVD investigations of 100- to 150-Seat Large Civil Aircraft from Canada. This case presented novel and important issues of whether the US Department of Commerce could extend the CVD investigation against Canada to the UK. Helped secure a rare unanimous "no injury" determination from the ITC.
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Represented British Steel in an AD investigation and related material injury investigation of Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from the United Kingdom.
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Secured the lowest antidumping duty margin for Tata Steel IJmuiden in the AD investigation of Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from the Netherlands in 2015-2016.
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Achieved a negative preliminary injury determination in the AD investigations of Cold Rolled Steel Flat Products from the Netherlands. As a result, the case was terminated with respect to our client, Tata Steel IJmuiden BV, at the preliminary stage of the proceeding, which is a rare victory for a foreign producer/exporter. This was an important victory as it allowed the company to concentrate its efforts on other ongoing investigations against the company’s exports to the US.
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Represented Port Hawkesbury Paper before the ITC in the CVD investigation of Supercalendared Paper from Canada.
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Secured a unanimous vote of "no injury" for LG Electronics at the ITC in the investigation of Bottom Mount Combination Refrigerator-Freezers from Korea and Mexico.
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Represented a major exporter of multilayered wood flooring, the largest Chinese mandatory respondent in the complex AD investigation of Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China.
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Secured among the lowest margins for AB SKF in the administrative reviews of Antifriction Bearings (other than Tapered Roller Bearings) from the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- Successfully represented Centrus Energy Corporation (formerly USEC) before the ITC in the AD/CVD investigation Low Enriched Uranium from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and AD investigation of Uranium from Russia.
Speaking Engagements
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"Trade Relationship Between the US and an Independent UK: What Are the Likely Problems?," British American Group of Lawyers & Accountants Conference, Birmingham, UK, June 6, 2018
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"Exporter Defense Measures and the International Experience," Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), São Paulo, Brazil, April 3, 2017
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"US Countervailing Duty Investigations Before the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission," Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), São Paulo, Brazil, December 6, 2016
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"Strategies for Avoiding an AD/CVD Petition and Minimizing Liability Under an Order," Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the USA, Fort Lee, NJ, August 24, 2016
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 25 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2023
June 1, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 16 Practice, 40 Individual Mentions in Chambers Global 2023
February 21, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 27 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2022
June 3, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 15 Practice, 43 Individual Mentions in Chambers Global 2022
February 22, 2022
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 24 Practice, 71 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2021
May 20, 2021
Client Alerts
FAQs on the Section 301 Process
August 15, 2018 (updated March 2, 2020)
By: Ambassador Susan Esserman, Eric C. Emerson, Gregory S. McCue, Thomas J. Trendl, Zhu (Judy) Wang
Events
Webinars
What You Need to Know About the Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
March 22, 2018
Speakers: Eric C. Emerson, Thomas J. Trendl, Gregory S. McCue
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, Nationwide (2021-2024)
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Trade (2019)
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Who's Who Legal, Trade & Customs (2018, 2022-2024)
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Euromoney's Expert Guide to the Best of the Best USA, "Top 30 in the USA," International Trade (2016-2022)
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Euromoney's Expert Guide to the World's Leading International Trade Lawyers (2015)
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Legal 500 US, Litigation: International Trade (2012-2013)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Section of International Law and Practice
- District of Columbia Bar Association, International Law Section