Art and collectibles move through U.S. borders every day, from gallery acquisitions and auction purchases to private collections and museum loans. While many importers assume artwork clears customs easily, the reality is more nuanced. Valuation rules, documentation requirements, and classification accuracy all play a major role in determining whether a [...]
Importing building materials into the United States has never been simple, but in 2025, it has become significantly more complex. With higher tariffs, stricter documentation requirements, and intensified enforcement following the end of De Minimis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now exp Building materials are considered high-risk commodities for [...]
Most U.S. import errors aren’t intentional. They happen because a product was classified incorrectly, a value changed after entry, or documentation wasn’t complete at the time of filing. What matters isn’t that an error occurred, it’s how and when you correct it. Under U.S. Customs rules, importers have two primary [...]
Importing plants into the United States isn’t like importing regular merchandise. Plants aren’t just products, they’re biological material. That means they can carry pests, diseases, and contaminants that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. For that reason, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with U.S. Customs and Border [...]
Ask ten importers who the Importer of Record is on a shipment, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. That confusion isn’t harmless. In 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce importer accountability more aggressively than ever. When roles like Importer of Record (IOR), consignee, and owner are [...]
For many U.S. importers, especially e-commerce brands and SMBs, the biggest surprise isn’t customs delays or paperwork. It’s cost. A product that looks profitable on paper can quickly lose margin once duties, freight, brokerage, and compliance add-ons are factored in. In 2025, with the end of De Minimis and tighter [...]
The end of the De Minimis era has changed everything for U.S. importers. What used to be a simple process, ship a parcel through a courier, let the carrier auto-clear it, and skip formal documentation, no longer exists. In 2025, every shipment must meet full U.S. customs compliance standards, no [...]
For years, U.S. e-commerce brands and marketplace sellers thrived on direct-to-consumer (DTC) parcel shipping. The model worked because Section 321 exemptions, low-value thresholds, and courier-driven clearances allowed products to ship directly from overseas suppliers to American customers with almost no friction. But in 2025, this model will become structurally unsustainable. [...]
