No Sweat Country of Origin Decision Tree
…one. Before you can mark your goods, you need to determine their country of origin. This is where most importers baulk. How exactly does one determine country of origin? The…
The Compliance Gap
…regulations clearly define the obligations of importers and exporters to implement certain basic procedures and practices to ensure compliance with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and other government agency…
The MSC Flaminia Is on Fire and I Have Cargo Onboard!
…your cargo insured through an all risk policy? If so, you can relax. Regardless of the outcome of this fire, your underwriters have you covered. Fire is one of the…
C-TPAT for Exporters
…EU countries with the Authorized Economic Operator program. C-TPAT importers already benefit from the fact that C-TPAT and the EU program are seen as having compatible security requirements. As a…
Paying Antidumping Duties twice? There’s a Fix for That.
…submit a non-reimbursement certificate on time so you don’t pay antidumping duties twice. Importers can submit this certificate on paper or electronically via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). It’s best…
US Customs Delays New Seal Standards for C-TPAT Members
Creating a tamper-proof container seal is a lot harder than it looks. U.S. Customs is delaying implementation of new ISO 17712-2010 high security seal standards because laboratories cannot meet the…
7 Ways to Harness the Power of Foreign Trade Zones
…6. Save with One Weekly Entry. Customs allows for weekly entry processing, which benefits importers because they pay a single Merchandise Processing Fee per week, versus paying on a per…
Tips and How To’s on New Lacey Declaration Form
There’s a new Lacey Act Declaration form for imported plants and plant products; and APHIS, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, is doing its best to make sure importers…
Commercial Invoice Must Haves
…their sleep. Yet, an inaccurate or incomplete commercial invoice is one of the most common errors found during a U.S. Customs audit. In order to avoid penalties and fines, importers…
The Importance of Follow-Up on Corrective Action
…than $500,000 in civil penalties for their gross negligence. With this recent judgment, all U.S. importers should be aware of the importance of following up as soon as possible on…