Folkert Graafsma specializes in international trade law, general EU and WTO law and customs law. He is particularly well-regarded in the area of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy, having successfully represented clients in over 150 anti-dumping and countervailing duty proceedings, including landmark EU and US cases, involving both industrial and consumer goods.
E: folkert.graafsma@vvgb-law.com
T: +32 2 542 07 80
T: +32 475 517 824
Folkert's trade practice focuses primarily on anti-dumping, subsidies, safeguards and customs, in which he counsels and assists governments, multinationals and trade associations. His experience covers all stages of the proceedings, from preparing questionnaire responses to challenging measures before the courts and the WTO.
Over the past 25 years Folkert represented clients in landmark EU and US trade cases such as Bricks, Cotton Fabrics, DVDs, Footwear and Shrimp (US case). More recent anti-dumping and anti-subsidy proceedings in which Folkert acted include: Solar Panels, Bicycles, Biodiesel, Organic Coated Steel, Aluminium Road Wheels, Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), WWAN Modems, Fatty Alcohol, Stainless Steel Wires and Magnesium Oxides.
Folkert has been involved in approximately 15 EU court and WTO dispute settlement proceedings. In recent years he has successfully represented the following exporters in Court: Kuiburi Fruit Canning Co., Ltd., SRF Limited, Zhejiang Xinanchem, PT Ecogreen Oleochemicals and Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.
In the WTO context, Folkert was co-counsel to India in the historic WTO anti-dumping dispute concerning EC – Bed Linen, where the question of ‘zeroing’ was settled, and continues to be involved in the WTO proceedings concerning Trade in Large Civil Aircraft.
Folkert is editor of the yearly ‘International Trade Law Review’ (published by Law Business Research) and editor of the bi-monthly Global Trade and Customs Journal (published by Kluwer) and has co-authored two handbooks with Edwin Vermulst. He also published a number of articles, and speaks regularly at conferences.
Folkert has a joint law-and-business-degree from Stanford University and is ranked in Band 1 of Chambers Global, Chambers Europe and Chambers Belgium. Sources described him as a “real powerhouse” and “top-notch” trade lawyer and compliment his technical expertise in the field of trade defence instruments. (Chambers Europe 2016). He clerked with the European Commission and has been a member of the Brussels Bar since 1990.
Education
Bar admissions
Honors & Awards
Recently, the 2016 edition of Chambers Global and Chambers Europe wrote:
Commentators describe Folkert Graafsma as a “real powerhouse” and “top-notch” trade lawyer, and compliment his technical expertise in the field of trade defence instruments. One client remarks: “He really has his customers’ interests at heart and provides the best service.”
Together with Edwin Vermulst he also ranked in the Belgian section of Chambers Global for his foreign expertise of China.
In 2015, WhosWhoLegal mentioned that he “is as good as it gets” and in 2013 the Legal 500 described him as “exceptionally dedicated.”
Professional activities
Folkert has co-authored and co-edited three books and published approximately 25 articles.
Books