Shawn M. Higgins

SHAWN HIGGINS counsels companies, trade associations, and governments on international trade law. He helps clients successfully address critical trade and regulatory issues impacting their ability to sell goods in their domestic markets and across borders. Shawn has experience in a variety of international trade matters, including representing domestic producers, importers, and foreign exporters/producers in major anti-dumping duty (AD), countervailing duty (CVD), safeguard, and national security proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). He regularly handles trade remedies and market access issues in jurisdictions outside the United States.

Chambers Global has recognized Shawn for his work in International Trade/WTO in the Asia-Pacific Region (2025).

Shawn also counsels clients on issues related to international trade compliance and the use of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to open markets and resolve disputes.

Prior to joining Sidley, Shawn worked for the DOC as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for AD/CVD Operations and a Senior International Trade Compliance Analyst. While in these roles, he analyzed complex issues regarding compliance with U.S. and international trade remedy laws and led numerous AD verifications of companies in China.

Shawn earned his law degree, as well as a WTO certificate, from the Georgetown University Law Center. He received a M.Sc., in international political economy, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.A., magna cum laude, in economics, from Rollins College.

Shawn’s recent work includes representing:

• A U.S. producer of hard empty capsules in AD and CVD proceedings before the DOC and ITC.
• Japanese steel mills in AD proceedings before the DOC, ITC, and CIT.
• Chinese solar cell and module exporters and producers in AD and CVD proceedings before the DOC, ITC, CIT, and CAFC.
• A Japanese titanium producer in AD investigations before the DOC and ITC.
• A Japanese paper producer in AD investigations before the DOC and ITC.
• Japanese and Vietnamese steel mills in anti-circumvention proceedings before the DOC.
• An Australian paper producer in anti-circumvention proceedings before the DOC.
• A U.S. producer of solar microinverters and a Chinese solar cell and module producer in a Section 201 safeguard investigation before the ITC and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
• A U.S. producer of water purification products in a Section 301 unfair trade investigation before USTR.
• A Japanese steel mill and U.S. producers of steel products in a Section 232 national security investigation before the DOC and USTR.
• A Japanese titanium producer in a Section 232 national security investigation before the DOC and USTR.
• A Russian agricultural trade association in proceedings before the WTO regarding import restrictions designed to address outbreaks of trans-boundary animal disease.

• American Bar Association