John M. Herrmann II

Partner

Phone number
(202) 342-8488

Serving as chair of Kelley Drye’s International Trade practice, John Herrmann’s practice combines a mix of law, economics, domestic politics and international relations. John guides domestic businesses and business coalitions on the use of antidumping and countervailing duty laws and has a successful track record of helping major U.S. industries address injury caused by unfairly traded imports. John’s clients include U.S. producers of aluminum, steel, and other metals, as well as chemical and agricultural products.

John also advocates for clients before Congress and the Executive Branch, drawing on longstanding relationships formed while serving in the administration of President George W. Bush, including work at the White House on the National Security Council staff. John worked as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade, Energy and Environment, where he was responsible for advising the President on international trade and investment issues and for the international aspects of energy and environmental policy.

John’s clients place a high value on his ability to de-escalate difficult situations and ​“be the voice of reason.” As one client told Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, ​“John is a terrific lawyer, with a strong grasp of trade laws and government agencies.” Another client noted ​“John is outstanding on the policy front.”

John honed his policy skills during his time at the White House, working on key issues including the WTO Doha Round negotiations; efforts to conclude and secure Congressional approval of free trade agreements; overseeing activities of the President’s Interagency Working Group on Import Safety; and representing the National Security Council at meetings of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). John was also involved in export control and sanctions issues and preparing for meetings of the cabinet-level U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Economic Council, the U.S.-India Economic Dialogue and CEO Forum, and the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, including preparation for the November 2008 G-20 financial summit. John was one of only a handful of senior National Security Council staff asked to carryover with the administration of President Barack Obama to assist on transition activities.

In addition, John served as a senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he advised the Assistant Secretary on issues raised in antidumping, countervailing duty and textile-related proceedings and policy matters before the agency. John also worked as a law clerk to former Chief Judge Gregory W. Carman at the United States Court of International Trade, as well as a legal intern to the Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission. He began his career at the White House as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant to the President for Economic and Domestic Policy.

“Using both my legal and government experience, I navigate my clients beyond complicated trade issues to help them obtain relief from unfairly traded goods and advise them on how to successfully export and import their products.”

Represented U.S. producers of aluminum foil in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey.

Represented U.S. producers of common alloy aluminum sheet in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports from Bahrain, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey.

Represented U.S. producers of common alloy aluminum sheet in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports from China.

Represented U.S. producers of aluminum foil in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports from China.

Represented a U.S. producer of preserved mushrooms in successful antidumping actions against imports from France, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.

Represented U.S. producers of stainless steel sheet and strip in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports from China.

Represented a major U.S. steel producer in successful antidumping and countervailing duty actions against imports of flat-rolled steel (cold-rolled and corrosion-resistant steel) imports from numerous countries.

Represented U.S. producers of activated carbon in a five-year sunset review that resulted in the extension of an antidumping order on imports from China for an additional five years.

Represented U.S. producers in activated carbon in successful annual administrative reviews of the antidumping order against imports from China before the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as in defending the same administrative determinations in litigation brought by Chinese producers.

Represented agricultural producers of fresh garlic, canned mushrooms and honey in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings and sunset reviews involving China and India before the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Represented domestic producers of polyethylene terephthalate resin in a successful antidumping action against imports from China.

Counsel to clients on export control and sanctions compliance issues and on the establishment of corporate compliance programs.

Ranked nationally as a leading practitioner in the International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy area by Chambers USA, 2021-2024.

Ranked as a leading practitioner in the International Trade: Trade Remedies area by Chambers Global, 2022-2024.

The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.), International Trade and Finance Law, 2018-2025.

Recognized as a leading attorney in the International practice area by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2013-2024.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the International Trade area, 2010, 2013-2017, 2019 and 2021-2024.

American Bar Association, International Law Section

Committee to Support U.S. Trade Laws (“CSUSTL”), co-chair of Lawyers Committee

Customs and International Trade Bar Association

U.S. Court of International Trade Rules Advisory Committee, member