Lydia C. Pardini helps companies protect market access, manage tariff exposure and make informed decisions as U.S. trade policy reshapes global supply chains. Drawing on her experience as a former senior attorney at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, Lydia brings government-side insight to complex customs, tariff, trade remedy and import regulatory matters. Clients praise her ability to distill dense trade requirements into clear and actionable guidance for business and legal teams, enabling them to assess risk, respond to enforcement pressure and resolve disputes efficiently.  

Lydia regularly represents manufacturers, importers and exporters in antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigations, Section 201 safeguard proceedings, Section 232 national security investigations and Section 301 tariff actions before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative. She also represents clients in tariff and trade litigation before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Her practice includes advising on and arguing trade disputes under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), its predecessor the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

A licensed customs broker, Lydia counsels clients on U.S. Customs and Border Protection compliance. She works collaboratively with clients to establish business-friendly compliance programs, assess tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, and qualification under various preferential trade agreements, and to navigate the customs implications of trade disputes. She represents clients in CBP enforcement actions and investigations ranging from risk assessments and audits to penalty and False Claims Act proceedings.

Lydia has served on the USMCA Binational Panel Roster since 2021 and holds leadership roles in various international trade organizations. She currently serves as a Board Member of the Association of Women in International Trade and as a Board Member of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association.

Lydia has received multiple awards for her government service, including being named the 2018 Attorney of the Year in the Office of the Chief Counsel and receiving two U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medals, the department’s highest honorary recognition for distinguished performance.

Education

  • Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • Certificate recipient, Comparative and International Law
  • Colby College (B.A., cum laude, International Studies - International Relations/Foreign Policy)

    Bar Admission

    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
    • U.S. Court of International Trade
    • U.S. Customs Broker

    Professional Affiliations

    • Association of Women in International Trade, Board Member, Multilateral Institutions Section
    • Customs and International Trade Bar Association, Co-Chair, Customs Committee
    • Washington International Trade Association
    • American Association of Exporters and Importers
    • International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association
    • 2024-2025 Roster for USMCA Binational Panels (U.S.), roster member since 2021

    Recognition

    • Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT DC)'s Committee of the Year Award Recipient, 2024
    Publications
    All Publications
    U.S. Court of International Trade Invalidates Trump Section 122 Global Tariffs, the Administration Appeals, and Tariffs Likely Will Remain in Effect for Most Importers
    Key Takeaways The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) invalidated President Trump’s Section 122 10% tariffs, holding that the Administration exceeded the authority delegated by Congress under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Administration has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The CIT’s injunction is limited. The court granted relief only to the plaintiffs – the State of Washington, Burlap & Barrel and Basic Fun! – and declined to issue nationwide relief. The tariffs remain in place for most importers pending appeal, and continue to apply broadly unless additional importers seek and obtain relief. The decision increases pressure on the Administration to pivot to alternative statutory authorities, including Section 301 and Section 232, for
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    IEEPA Refund Portal Opens on April 20: What Importers Should Know About Filing, Timing and Liquidity Options
    Key Takeaways U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch Phase 1 of CAPE on April 20, giving many importers their first access to the ACE-based path to request IEEPA duty refunds. More complicated entries – including those involving certain AD/CVD orders, protests, drawback, reconciliation and liquidated entries that are more than 80 days past liquidation – remain outside Phase 1 or will follow a different timeline. Importers and brokers should act now to confirm ACE portal access, ACH/electronic refund enrollment, U.S. bank account information and entry eligibility before submitting CAPE declarations. CBP also has made clear that filers may not initiate an IEEPA refund request through a Post Summary Correction (PSC). Timing of refund declaration processing will vary. For many standard accepted entries, CBP
    Read More