Resolving Trade Barriers Maximizing Resources

Over the past two decades, The Barnett Group has worked 24/7 to resolve trade barriers for global brands operating in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, saving corporate clients tens of millions of dollars.

OUR PROCESS

Analyze, advocate, and resolve trade and governmental regulatory barriers.

The Barnett Group offers a sophisticated, knowledge-based approach to solving trade problems for our clients. We represent our clients by activating our networks in Washington and across the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region.

Here’s our process:

Conduct the policy analysis and present our strategic plan to our client

Map out the most critical stakeholders and pressure points

Expeditiously prepare issue papers for our client and for distribution to external stakeholders

Set up ongoing meetings and conferences with senior officials in Washington and in the region

Coordinate, advise and update client daily/weekly, incorporating all input and suggestions

Repeat and repeat again until we achieve success.

Develop a dynamic strategy, action plan, and timetables for growth.

Establish viable networks throughout foreign and U.S. governments for clients to work with directly.

Identify strategic opportunities for growth and new markets.

Daily monitoring of economic, political and commercial activities in the MENA region for early warnings to clients.

Barriers That We Have Resolved Include…

Excise, VAT, Exclusivity, and other Discriminatory Taxes • Customs Clearance & Delays • Product Registration & Testing • Protection of Intellectual Property and Enforcement of IP Statutes and Decisions • Duplicative & Complex Filing Requirements • Product Bans • Labeling • Advertising • Standards • Regulatory System Irregularities • Protective Laws & Regulations • Corruption • Adequate Foreign Exchange

Prepare for the Unexpected

The Barnett Group uses global access, local presence, and both Washington, D.C. and MENA bases to monitor trade in the Middle East every day for our clients – and to provide early warning systems for impending commercial problems.

Guided by Judith Barnett, a lawyer, former senior U.S. government official, trade consultant, law professor, and public affairs specialist, our team has vast networks and decades of worldwide experience in counteracting trade issues, a broad knowledge of trade systems and the people who manage them, and a proven record of success.

Whenever necessary, we have a network of consultants and experts, from Morocco to Saudi, to assist in-country.

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Trade barriers appear at unanticipated times and places:

We are prepared 24/7

Reduced tariffs from 25-30% on key products
to 0-10% for a multi-billion food company’s Middle East operations while initiating the elimination of product bans and providing early warning on ever-present regulatory and legislative problems.
Averted a $15 million issue
in taxes that were wrongly claimed by a MENA government, with $6 million each year going forward, for a $60 billion consumer products company.
Eliminated $300,000
in daily losses for the subsidiary of a Fortune 50 company.
Secured millions of dollars
in investment incentives from the Government of Egypt to build a new manufacturing plant, now generating $200 million in revenue.
Negotiated a joint venture
agreement for a large international MENA high-tech fund with a U.S. telecommunications company.
Trained teams of client senior and mid-level employees
in the objectives, methods and successes of government relations. Prepared teams to better recognize and resolve regulatory barriers rather than maintaining the status quo.
Established and supported social and community programs
by working with companies and governments, both US and MENA cooperatively, to assess the development of best social programs and then to develop, fund, endorse, and sustain them for long-term community participation, benefit, and success.

Understanding the MENA

The Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region has over 448 million people, is growing at a rate that is three times the world average, and has Internet penetration of 67.2% (11% higher than the world average). The region is a young and vibrant market, with 50% of the world’s known oil reserves and untapped human resources. Over the next decade, companies that plan strategically and monitor closely will see far more growth in this region than in many other developed and developing markets.

The MENA region has 19 countries, each with its own set of opportunities and challenges for multinational corporations. To succeed in the region, companies must have a government relations strategy that can monitor potential barriers and a network that can act quickly in your best interests.

Selected Publications

America’s Best Endgame in the Middle East: Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs
via The Huffington Post

Can America Finally Support a Courageous Ally in the Middle East?
via The Huffington Post

The Middle East needs a Marshall Plan
via Al Jazeera

“Death of the Internet” Brings Dilemmas for Multinational Boards
via The Financial Times

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Get in touch.

If your company is faced with unwarranted customs duties, unpredictable and discriminatory tax laws and regulations, ad hoc product standards, bans on important product lines, irregular court actions, protective regulations and legislation, and misuse of bi-national and multinational trade agreements – we can help.

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