After over 15 years of maintaining the same fee structure for International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration, the U.S. State Department has proposed amendments to increase the fees required for Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) enrollment. As a reminder, the export regulations require registration for those engaged in manufacturing, exporting, temporarily importing, or brokering of…
In the world of international shipping and e-commerce, the term “Section 321” has gained significance, especially among those importing goods into the United States. Under this provision of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, shipments valued at $800 or less can enter the country duty-free and without formal entry requirements. However, the…
Two Russia-born U.S. citizens, Sergey Nefedov from Anchorage, Alaska, and Mark Shumovich from Bellevue, Washington, were arrested for allegedly operating a scheme to illegally export nearly half a million dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts from the United States to Russia without the required export authorization and approvals through the company Absolut Auto Sales…
In The Matrix, a computer hacker named Neo takes a red pill that unlocks a hidden world – one where he has tremendous superpowers and vision into the true nature of reality. In trade compliance, unfortunately, there are no magic red pills. But if you want to get down to the truth, there is a…
Shipping goods into the United States isn’t always a seamless process. At some point, almost every U.S. importer will experience a clearance delay getting their goods through U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). What does this mean? In a nutshell, a clearance delay means your shipment hasn’t cleared Customs and is still in their possession. …
Do you slap “Made in USA” labels on your products or advertise in this way? Can you, without a doubt, declare your products are – in fact – made in the USA? This is one of the most overused (and misunderstood) proclamations companies make on the market today. Ensuring accuracy is imperative because the consequences…
Trade compliance audits can be scary, cumbersome and time-consuming. Why would any company subject itself to this? The importance of any import/export compliance audit is to avoid the dreaded “F&P” words. These are two words that most companies don’t want to hear … or even say (unless it’s behind closed doors). I’m talking about Fines…
What Is The Importance Of Denied Party Screening? Denied party screening is like a safety net for businesses, helping you dodge legal hassles that can cost lots of money and a lost reputation. In essence, it’s a way to make sure a business isn’t unwittingly dealing with a party that’s on the government’s naughty list…
Was your shipment one of the almost 4,300 to be detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for UFLPA enforcement since last June? If not, great! But don’t get too comfortable, either. UFLPA isn’t going anywhere, and perhaps rightfully so. This isn’t an enforcement deliberately meant to hurt U.S. importers. Instead, it boils down…
Classifying apparel correctly is essential for importers, as it determines the appropriate duties and regulations that apply. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) provides a standardized system for classifying apparel. However, the chapters for apparel are long and can be confusing. Here are five important things to know about classifying apparel using…