Will Planert, partner, and E.J. Thomas, senior associate in Taft’s International Trade practice, will be featured speakers at the Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance Conference in Houston on February 5, 2026. Taft is also proud to serve as a Gold Sponsor of this premier industry event, which has been sold out for weeks and will draw hundreds of importers and trade compliance professionals from across the United States.

At the conference, Planert and Thomas will present “Navigating the AD/CVD Minefield: A Survival Guide for Trade Compliance Professionals.” Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) remain among the most complex and consequential areas of U.S. trade compliance, with potentially significant cost and liability implications for importers. Their session will equip attendees with practical guidance to navigate today’s increasingly aggressive enforcement landscape.

Will Planert is a Partner in the International Trade practice, representing foreign corporations and U.S. importers in trade remedy proceedings and customs matters. He routinely appears before the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Commission, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with litigation experience at the U.S. Court of International Trade, Federal Circuit, and USMCA panels. Will also advises clients on customs compliance, USMCA origin issues, country of origin issues, classification, Section 232, and other tariffs issued by the Executive Branch.

E.J. Thomas is a Senior Associate in the International Trade practice, advising clients across industries on antidumping, countervailing duty, and various tariff proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission. He provides guidance on Section 232, Section 301, IEEPA tariffs, and tariff mitigation strategies, and handles U.S. Customs matters such as ruling requests, prior disclosures, protests, audits, and Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act reviews. E.J. has helped clients secure tariff exclusions and has litigated related denials. He also represents clients in disputes before the U.S. Court of International Trade, Federal Circuit, and NAFTA/USMCA panels.