I feel like it was just 1994 and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was ratified and I was hitting the road advising importers how to take advantage of the duty-free provisions. What a feat! U.S. industry had to learn the Rules of Origin, Tariff Shifts, Regional Value Content requirements and how to complete…
Appropriate to the Season and to something that should stay with us all throughout the year… On the first day of Christmas my company gave to me- A Management Compliance Policy which establishes my management’s and my company’s commitment to export compliance; On the second day of Christmas my company gave to me- An Export…
It’s almost Thanksgiving and when I think Thanksgiving, I think about traditions. Truthfully, no one in my family even likes turkey and we’ve discussed deviating from eating it every year, but we just can’t do it! Why? Tradition! We have all kinds of traditions at this time of year: fighting over (ahem, I mean breaking)…
In a September blog “INCOTERMS, They are a-changing” , we discussed what potential changes could occur during the review process of INCOTERMS 2010 by the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”). The ICC has now released the latest revisions, which they believe will help simplify the responsibilities of the buyer and the seller in a trade…
In a previous blog, we discussed the concept of “reasonable care” as it applies to your trade compliance program. The focus was how export and import programs dovetail with many other areas of compliance, such as policies and procedures, valuation, Free Trade Agreements, and more. Today, I’d like to switch gears and talk about how…
Within a few short weeks, the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) will release the much-anticipated INCOTERMS 2020 and, as it did in 2010, the publication of the ICC decisions will change the landscape of international trade. As you may remember, the INCOTERMS were reduced from thirteen (13) to eleven (11) with the 2010 revisions. While…
Capital One is famous for its slogan, “What’s in your wallet?” But in the world of trade compliance officers, the pertinent question might be, “What’s in your compliance plan?” Earlier this year, OFAC published “A Framework for Compliance Commitments.” This framework provides direction and insight into what the agency believes are essential elements of a…
Import classifications are the cornerstone of every shipment. Without a correct classification, you cannot determine duties or tariffs. With trade compliance professionals wearing so many hats, classification is often an afterthought – just a number quickly slapped on the paperwork to get it off the dock. The result? Inconsistent and potentially incorrect classifications. Here are…
If you’ve spent any time in trade compliance, you’ve probably come across the term “reasonable care.” But what, exactly, does that mean? The ambiguous nature of this phrase has caused many different interpretations over the years. Let’s review some practical ways to apply this principle to your global trade compliance program. The idea of “reasonable…
Late one Friday afternoon while speaking with a client who was about to leave on vacation, I heard the following question: “Do you know what a CF-28 Request for Information means?” Like many small- to medium-sized businesses struggling to understand the finer points of customs compliance, this client ran up against what is likely to be…