Just last week I was reminded of an experience I had at a previous employer with an import shipment. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and many people were already on their holiday, while I received a frantic call from our freight forwarder & customs broker about an Emergency Action Notification (EAN) from U.S. Customs…
If you ever received a refund from CBP, you would typically receive a paper check mailed to you. But get ready, changes are coming and very soon. No longer will you see that check from the US Department of Treasury, refunds will be issued electronically. The interim final rule goes into effect on February 6,…
What Is the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA)? The Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 was enacted as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) and became effective in August 2016, this law gives US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to investigate and stop evasion of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imported goods. Its purpose is to protect US…
This year has been exceptionally challenging for importers. From the outset, new tariffs appeared to be implemented almost daily, with China-related tariff rates changing multiple times—sometimes within a single day. Keeping pace with these developments has proven difficult even for the most experienced trade professionals. Compounding the uncertainty were a series of legal challenges surrounding…
When it comes to importing, accuracy in your import entry is not only important, but also essential. One of the most critical components of this process is the proper classification of goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). At first glance, this might seem like a simple task. Depending on the product, it can be—but…
Tariffs, a tax on imports, have historically been used to support domestic industries and are primarily imposed for two reasons: to protect domestic industries by raising the cost of imported goods, and/or to generate revenue for the government. However, they can often also result in reduced trade, higher prices, and retaliation. A tariff is a…
In all the years of my career, I don’t think I have seen so many articles or news stories on tariffs as I have since Donald Trump won the election in November. Everyone is trying to speculate on what he is going to do and if he will follow through with his promises on increasing…
In today’s globalized world, it’s not uncommon for travelers to find themselves in a position where they need to transport commercial items across borders. Whether you’re a small business owner attending a trade show or a Fortune 500 company employee taking a spare replacement part to a customer, hand-carrying commercial items can present a unique…
Regulatory Blast – Drinking from a Firehose! The recent regulatory landscape is ever changing. In fact, I am finding it hard to stay up to date – and I am what some may say “experienced”! The other day, I told a colleague that I had not had an easy question to answer that week! In…
Complying with export regulations can be hard! Knowing where to find the regulations, how to interpret them and apply them to your business in a constantly dynamic and changing environment is challenging to say the least; not to mention that regulations are not static. This means what was okay last week, may not be okay…