Navigating commercial importing is like battling a sea of paperwork. Declarations, invoices, permits, border bonds… trying to navigate every aspect of clearing customs on your own can feel like you’re swimming against the current. In order to clear up some of the confusion around customs procedures, we’re going over two [...]
First introduced in 2009 and fully in effect since 2010, ISF filing is a crucial part of any importing any cargo coming into the United States by ocean carrier. While ISF has no bearing on your cargo’s admissibility and does not generally influence trade enforcement, US Customs and Border Protection [...]
Maybe you’re looking to expand your offering — maybe you’re looking for your next challenge. You might have gotten the idea from a business partner, seen it work for another company, or maybe you’re just curious about it. No matter what, starting an import business seems like a good idea. [...]
Tariffs always seem to be on the mind lately. New tariffs being imposed, old tariffs being renegotiated, tariffs as a good thing, tariffs as a bad thing… ...But who has to pay all these tariffs? How do you even know what goods are subject to tariffs in the first place? [...]
You’ve gone over all your documents… you think. You’ve got the right tariff codes… you’re pretty sure. You haven’t forgotten anything… right? Maybe not, but maybe you have, and unless you’re using a Reasonable Care Checklist, you have no way of knowing. Not watching your Reasonable Care duties doesn’t just [...]
The Mitsubishi FTO. The Subaru WRX STI. The Opel Tigra. Beyond being cool cars, these models — and a slew of others — have something in common: they’re only becoming eligible to import this year. This is thanks to a legal clause known as the 25-year rule, which states that certain [...]
Customs brokers are regulated and authorized by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to do our jobs. We’re licensed — we’ve passed all the exams — and we’re professionals, but we don’t actually work for CBP or the federal government. When you, an importer, contact a customs broker, we need [...]
Like it or not, whether you’re shipping by land, sea or air, there’s always a possibility that your cargo will be damaged along the way. There’s no way of completely guaranteeing safe cargo. You can’t control natural disasters, weather anomalies, human error, or, if you’re unlucky, dishonest shippers. Just a [...]
When importing, trying to work around expensive duty fees isn’t always easy. If what you’re importing is valued under $800 USD or less, however, you may not have to pay duty -- or even declare a formal entry -- on your goods! While this is a great deal for anyone [...]
Temporary imports, while generally not what most people would think of when they think about imports, are a key kind of import that allows companies and professionals to bring in samples, equipment, and prototypes without being charged duty they otherwise would have to pay. Because a temporary import will not [...]
