Ms. Wong Chian Voen advises clients on international trade issues, including trade, customs, export control and other regulatory requirements, and investment rules. She works with clients to identify and analyze various options for locating manufacturing, administrative, treasury and other business functions. She assists companies in rationalizing their manufacturing and supply chain strategies in order to capitalize on free trade agreements (“FTAs”). In addition, Ms. Wong assists clients in engaging the relevant government authorities on specific issues, such as importation/exportation matters (classification, valuation, transfer pricing, export control, etc.), and incentive schemes. She provides assistance on evaluating government policies for consistency with World Trade Organization (“WTO”) rules and devising WTO-consistent incentive programs and policies. She also provides sovereign clients with advice and assistance during international trade negotiations, including the consideration and definition of negotiating options and strategies.

Select Representations

• Identified and compared the investment (foreign investment restrictions, incentives, direct tax, double tax treaties, transfer pricing, Advance Pricing Agreement, etc.), customs (import procedures, import duties, excise tax, drawback, valuation, etc.), and other regulatory conditions (health and safety requirements, consumption/sale restrictions, advertising restrictions, etc.) in selected countries against criteria defined by a major European liquor manufacturer as critical for successful implementation of its Asian distribution hub, analyzed the various options available and recommended the most optimal solution

• Advised a major European liquor company on joint venture and investment matters in Vietnam.

• Provided an overview of Vietnam and the automotive market for a major European automobile manufacturer.

• Assisted the Government of Vietnam in reviewing the implementation phase of its Automobile Master Plan.

• Provided timely intelligence on and analysis of developments in the areas of investment, trade, customs and free trade agreements in ASEAN and certain ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) specifically relevant to the automotive, tobacco, electronics and machinery industries.

• Created an import/export procedural manual on India (covering classification, valuation, documentation, import restrictions and export control, etc.) for a major U.S. aircraft manufacturer.

• Advised several MNCs on various customs issues in China relating to leasing activities, duty exemptions, customs requirements, structuring cross-border transactional flows, etc.

• Advised a U.S. musical instruments company on India’s export processing zones and customs import regulations.

• Identified customs and other regulatory compliance requirements and issues for China, in particular special labeling, certification, documentation, transportation, packing, etc. requirements relating to dangerous chemical products, for a U.S. chemical company.

• Assisted a major U.S. aircraft manufacturer on several issues regarding Japan’s export control regime and the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.

• Provided assistance in reviewing the internal compliance and controls, as well as interviewing key personnel, of a Chinese subsidiary of a large U.S. MNC, in relation to a violation of China customs laws and requirements; the offence was successfully kept as administrative.

• Created a database of preferential tariffs under FTAs involving certain countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Advised an automotive exporter on exporting to various ASEAN countries under the CEPT Scheme and applying for CEPT Form D.

• Created WTO/FTA Primers for an export promotion agency explaining FTAs, rules of origin, trade facilitation and trade remedies.

• Advised a few Asian governments on FTA negotiations with the United States and Japan.

• Monitored and advised a major Japanese automotive company on Vietnam’s implementation of its WTO commitments.

• Assisted a major European tobacco company to structure a major incentive scheme for investment in rural development to be tabled to the Government of Malaysia that is compliant with WTO Agreements.

• Reviewed a specific incentive program in Thailand for consistency with WTO rules for a major Japanese automotive company.

• Assisted an MNC in understanding the WTO accession process, identifying the key considerations and assessing the possibility of WTO accession of a least-developed country.

• Clarified Taiwan’s WTO commitments with regard to import duties and other taxes and charges.

• Was Assistant Director of the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry and Assistant Manager at the International Enterprise Singapore (“IE Singapore”, formerly known as the Singapore Trade Development Board).

• Involved in FTA negotiations (Rules of Origin “ROO”) with New Zealand, Japan, the European Free Trade Area (“EFTA”), the United States and Mexico and led ROO and Customs cooperation discussions at the first year review of the New Zealand-Singapore FTA.

• Was the technical officer on ROO for the ASEAN-China FTA discussions and advised on Singapore’s position with regard to ROO in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (“AFTA”).

• Represented Singapore’s interests at the WTO on ROO and competition policy, as well as analyzed, formulated and recommended Singapore’s policy positions on various issues, such as ROO, trade facilitation and Customs matters, competition policy, agriculture and textiles.

• “FTAs & Business Planning”, APEC Trade Policy Dialogue on RTAs/FTAs, Da Nang, Vietnam, September 11, 2006.

• “Free Trade Agreements and the US-Thailand FTA Negotiation” & “Overview of Singapore’s FTA Experience, Lessons for Thailand”, seminar on Thailand’s FTA Negotiations with the United States: Implications for Thai Businesses, Bangkok, 2004.

•  “Issues Affecting the Manufacturing Sector” & “Government Procurement”, seminar on Making Business Sense of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement: A Seminar with US and Singapore government officials, international trade professionals and business leaders, Singapore, 2004.

• Editor, Making Business Sense of Singapore’s FTAs, Singapore, Times Edition-Marshall Cavendish International (Asia), 2004.

• “Trade in Goods”, Wong Chian Voen (ed.), Making Business Sense of Singapore’s FTAs, Singapore, Times Edition-Marshall Cavendish International (Asia), 2004.

• “Closer Economic Partnership With Japan: The Singapore Experience”, 29th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting, Manila, 2003.

Professional Appointment

• FTA Panel of Advisors, International Enterprise Singapore.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts (English and Political Science), National University of Singapore.

• Master of Pacific International Affairs (International Management), University of California, San Diego.

Languages

• English, Mandarin.