The Law and Geopolitics Series
Sanctions Law in the Russia-Ukraine War
 
April 1st, 2022, 9:30AM – 10:30AM  
Zoom to be conducted in English

Online Registration
 
Introduction: 
Sanctions, rather than military actions, have been the focal point of western efforts to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine.  Thus far, the severe economic sanctions inflicted upon Russia have sent shockwaves across the country’s economy, with repercussions felt across a wide range of sectors affecting global energy and food supply chains.  In this talk, Angela Zhang, the Director of the Center for Chinese Law will interview Benjamin Kostrzewa, a trade and sanctions specialist, on the scope and application of the western sanctions on Russia, as well as their potential impact on China.

Speaker:
Benjamin Kostrzewa is a counsel at Hogan Lovells. He served as assistant general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he handled U.S.-China disputes and negotiations, World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes, and free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. Currently working out of Hong Kong and Washington, D.C. offices, Benjamin advises clients in the ever-changing area of international trade law with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. His experience at the USTR and deep knowledge of the greater China market uniquely position him to assist global clients in navigating U.S. export controls, Section 301, U.S.-China trade disputes, U.S. sanctions policies, and other complex trade law challenges. Benjamin assists his clients on the full spectrum of trade issues, including cross-border export controls and sanctions investigations, Section 301, anti-dumping and countervailing duty matters, FTA negotiations, Section 232 and Section 301 exclusion applications, customs issues, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States filings, and WTO and FTA disputes. He represents clients before the USTR; Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury; International Trade Commission; WTO; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Benjamin worked at the USTR from 2011 to 2015. During this time, he represented the United States in WTO disputes, bilateral and multilateral talks, FTA negotiations, trade preference programs, and Cuba trade policy. Benjamin also worked at an international law firm in Washington, D.C. where he successfully assisted clients on U.S. trade remedy investigations, trade policy, export controls, and government relations. Benjamin studied Chinese and Chinese law at China’s prestigious Peking University. In law school at the University of Washington, he served as the executive articles editor for the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal and as president of the International Legal Society. Benjamin speaks at international trade events in the United States and Asia.

Chair:
Dr. Angela Zhang, Director of the Centre for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong