Sydney H. Mintzer

Clients note that Sydney "is a pleasure to work with and deeply understands the field of international trade, "is super responsive and has a great understanding of our business needs," and "is very helpful . . . and good at providing context to advice."

Sydney Mintzer’s international trade and customs practice is primarily focused on helping clients comply with US import regulations, optimize global sourcing options, and eliminate barriers to market entry. Sydney is recognized by numerous legal industry publications, including being selected as one of five lawyers to receive Law360’s International Trade MVP Award in 2021. He is nationally ranked by Chambers USA for International Trade: Customs – Nationwide, Legal 500 US for International Trade, and The Best Lawyers in America® in International Trade and Finance Law.

A licensed customs broker, Sydney has assisted major US and foreign corporations involved in customs audits, focused assessments, enforcement matters, and other proceedings before US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). He is among the first lawyers to represent clients in CBP forced labor investigations since Section 307 of the Tariff Act was amended in 2016, obtaining one of the first modifications to a withhold release order that allowed our client to import articles otherwise banned for importation into the US. In addition, Sydney has worked with clients to develop, implement and audit internal compliance programs and identify optimal sourcing patterns to minimize tariffs and duties.

Sydney represents clients in antidumping (AD) and anti-subsidy (CVD) investigations initiated in multiple jurisdictions. He has represented both domestic industries and foreign producers, as well as exporters and importers in these investigations, which gives him an excellent understanding of the issues and factors surrounding these proceedings. Sydney also advises clients on customs-related aspects of AD/CVD orders, including on whether imported goods are subject to these orders, methods for obtaining exclusions to them, and representation in proceedings before CBP seeking to exclude merchandise that allegedly evades AD/CVD orders.

In addition to representing clients before the US Department of Commerce and US International Trade Commission in US investigations, Sydney has represented US and European companies in AD/CVD investigations in the EU, China, India, Mexico and Brazil. His breadth of practice has covered a wide range of industries, including mining, ferroalloys, steel, chemicals, renewable energy, fertilizer, and textiles/apparel.

Sydney’s practice also includes representing clients in a variety of tariff proceedings, including ongoing Section 301 investigations. He has successfully represented clients in the interagency process used to determine the scope of Section 301 duties, both on behalf of clients seeking protection from imports as well as those seeking an exclusion to the duty. For clients subject to Section 301 duties, Sydney has advised on how changes in their supply chain could be made to support a change in origin based on standard US rules of origin. He also advises clients on the applicability of Section 232 duties imposed on imports of steel and aluminum as well as the related process for excluding imports from that duty regime.