Samantha Sewall

Samantha Sewall is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. She advises clients on compliance with U.S. legal obligations at the intersection of global trade, foreign policy, and national security, focusing her practice on compliance with U.S. economic sanctions, export controls, national security reviews of foreign direct investment (CFIUS), and anti-boycott laws. Samantha has experience advising companies across a wide range of sectors including aerospace, banking and financial institutions, defense, energy, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, shipping, retail, telecommunications, and travel.

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Impact of Current and Proposed Tariffs on Pharmaceutical Products

April 22, 2025 | Posted by Adam Smith; Samantha Sewall; Hui Fang; Topic(s): International Trade; Trends and Insights

Pharmaceutical products from China continue to be subject to the fentanyl-related emergency tariffs (20%) and are expected to be subject to national security tariffs to be announced under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, despite the recently announced “exemption” from the so-called “reciprocal tariffs” announced on April 2, 2025. We expect the Section 232 investigation to move quickly, and we advise companies to take prompt proactive steps to assess the tariff impacts. Our trade team stands ready to assist clients in navigating the fast-developing tariff landscape.

Navigating the Impact of Emergency Tariffs on Biotech Manufacturing with Chinese Counterparties

March 10, 2025 | Posted by Samantha Sewall; Lindsay Bernsen Wardlaw; Adam Smith; Branden C. Berns; Topic(s): Government Regulation; International Trade; Manufacturing; Trends and Insights

The recent imposition of emergency tariffs on products from China and Hong Kong has raised significant concerns for biotech companies, particularly those considering or currently engaged in manufacturing contracts with Chinese entities. This post aims to provide an overview of the recent emergency tariffs targeting China and their potential implications for the biotech industry.