While it’s been around for several decades, the first sale rule appears to be generating renewed interest as an option to potentially lessen the impact of tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the U.S.

“We’ve seen a real increase in nontraditional first sale clients, clients who are importing things that aren’t traditionally subject to higher duty rates,” said Mark Segrist, an import and export trade lawyer and Chicago-based member of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg. The firm established the first sale rule 30 years ago through litigation.