Full Name
Zhiwei Chen
Job Title
Counsel
Company
Crowell
Speaker Bio
Zhiwei Chen is a counsel in Crowell & Moring’s International Trade and Privacy and Cybersecurity groups. With over 15 years of experience in both China and Washington, D.C., he is uniquely positioned to bridge complex trade, data, and regulatory challenges for U.S. and Chinese multinationals with global supply chains.
With nuanced understanding of China’s regulatory landscape, his China trade practice covers a broad spectrum of issues—including optimizing supply chains, building trade compliance programs, conducting internal audits and investigations, managing self-disclosures, advising on export controls, cross-border e-commerce, inspections and quarantine, foreign exchange control, product certification, and labeling. He also guides clients through challenges resulting from potential conflicts between U.S. sanctions and China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Unreliable Entity List, and Blocking Statute. Multinational clients regularly call up Zhiwei for representation in customs audits and enforcement actions, including detentions and seizures. He has successfully defended clients in high-profile customs audit and investigation cases, including a primary case investigated directly under the supervision by China’s General Administration of Customs and an export control matter before China’s Ministry of Commerce.
For Chinese companies operating in or exporting to the U.S., Zhiwei provides strategic counsel on congressional investigations, CBP enforcement actions, supply chain compliance, U.S. country of origin planning, and other tariff and trade matters. With on-the-ground experience in Washington, D.C., he helps clients navigate the geopolitical complexities of the U.S.-China relationship, mitigating risks while identifying business opportunities.
Since the enactment of China’s Cybersecurity Law in 2016, Zhiwei has advised leading technology and digital companies on cross-border data transfers, cybersecurity, data privacy, telecommunications, cloud computing, encryption, and other digital regulatory issues. His knowledge is particularly valuable in cross-border investigations and litigations, where trade and data regulations intersect.
Before joining Crowell & Moring, Zhiwei practiced at a global law firm in Los Angeles and Shanghai and at a leading Chinese customs law firm. He is a regular speaker on U.S.-China trade and regulatory issues.
With nuanced understanding of China’s regulatory landscape, his China trade practice covers a broad spectrum of issues—including optimizing supply chains, building trade compliance programs, conducting internal audits and investigations, managing self-disclosures, advising on export controls, cross-border e-commerce, inspections and quarantine, foreign exchange control, product certification, and labeling. He also guides clients through challenges resulting from potential conflicts between U.S. sanctions and China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Unreliable Entity List, and Blocking Statute. Multinational clients regularly call up Zhiwei for representation in customs audits and enforcement actions, including detentions and seizures. He has successfully defended clients in high-profile customs audit and investigation cases, including a primary case investigated directly under the supervision by China’s General Administration of Customs and an export control matter before China’s Ministry of Commerce.
For Chinese companies operating in or exporting to the U.S., Zhiwei provides strategic counsel on congressional investigations, CBP enforcement actions, supply chain compliance, U.S. country of origin planning, and other tariff and trade matters. With on-the-ground experience in Washington, D.C., he helps clients navigate the geopolitical complexities of the U.S.-China relationship, mitigating risks while identifying business opportunities.
Since the enactment of China’s Cybersecurity Law in 2016, Zhiwei has advised leading technology and digital companies on cross-border data transfers, cybersecurity, data privacy, telecommunications, cloud computing, encryption, and other digital regulatory issues. His knowledge is particularly valuable in cross-border investigations and litigations, where trade and data regulations intersect.
Before joining Crowell & Moring, Zhiwei practiced at a global law firm in Los Angeles and Shanghai and at a leading Chinese customs law firm. He is a regular speaker on U.S.-China trade and regulatory issues.
Speaking At
