Joonho Hwang focuses his practice on international trade matters at the intersection of global supply chains, national security, and intellectual property. He has broad experience representing domestic and multinational companies in trade investigations and related litigation, including antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, Section 337 unfair import investigations, Sections 232 and 301 investigations and enforcement proceedings. His practice reflects a strong understanding of how customs enforcement, Section 337 and trade remedies operate together in matters implicating U.S. trade and national security policy.

While in law school, Joonho was repeatedly recognized for his written and oral advocacy skills, which he leverages to help clients solve high-stakes trade matters. He also worked as a research assistant to several law professors to advocate for an underserved community’s right to safe-drinking water and research the impact of the pandemic on eviction proceedings.

Before attending law school, Joonho served as an intelligence and interpretation officer at the Ministry of National Defense in Korea, supporting high-level negotiations for a $10 billion U.S. military base relocation and construction program.

Education

  • University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2022)
    • Co-Editor-in-Chief, Illinois Law Update
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., 2013)
    • Economics

Bar Admission

  • District of Columbia, 2022
  • Illinois, 2022

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of International Trade

Professional Affiliations

  • Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA)
  • ITC Trial Lawyers Association (ITCTLA)

Recognition

  • Named one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in:
    • Intellectual Property Law, 2026
    • Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2026
  • First Place Best Oralist, Touro Law National Moot Court Competition
  • Finalist, Paul M. Lisnek Awards for Excellence and Ethics in Trial Advocacy
  • Teaching Assistant, Legal Writing & Analysis
  • Coach, Thurgood Marshall National Moot Court Team
  • CALI Award: International Business Transactions

Languages

  • Korean
Publications
New U.S. Import Tariffs on Certain Automobiles and Parts
On March 26, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing new 25% tariffs on certain automobiles and automobile parts imported into the U.S. from all countries on or after April 3, 2025. This executive order comes as businesses await the outcome of the broader reciprocal trade plan also expected to be released on April 2. The executive order builds on an investigation undertaken during President Trump’s first term focused on U.S. imports of passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans and cargo vans), light trucks (collectively, automobiles) and certain automobile parts (engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts and electrical components — collectively, automobile parts) and their effect on the national security of the U.S. under
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Potential New U.S. Import Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil
On March 25, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order permitting the Secretary of State, in consultation with other agencies, to apply 25% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that import Venezuelan oil on or after April 2, 2025. This executive order comes as businesses await the outcome of the broader reciprocal trade plan also expected to be released on April 2. The executive order enhances the existing network of sanctions and export controls imposed by the U.S. on Venezuela and doesn’t lift or otherwise modify those actions. Instead, the executive order aims to further reduce Venezuelan revenue by discouraging countries’ purchases of Venezuelan oil by threatening tariffs on U.S. imports of countries that do so. The order permits the State
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