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…
We all know that having an EAR99 export classification is quite favorable for exporters. Typically, it allows for No License Required (NLR) exports if other considerations and requirements such as end use and restricted party screening have been met. However, let’s look at a common scenario that may not be on your radar outside of…
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,…
The Confusing World Of Export Compliance Sometimes the regulations can be confusing and unclear about how to accomplish the tasks required to remain export compliant. One of these examples is Restricted Party Screening, where screening for denied or restricted entities is one of the most crucial risk management tasks within export compliance. All people, even…
Often, when we think of export compliance, our focus is on the Shipping Department and boxes going out the door. But did you know that OFAC recently settled with a Chicago Private Equity fund for $11.48M? This firm had been managing a $50M investment that had ties to Suleiman Kerimov, a sanctioned Russian oligarch and…
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…
Screening is an essential element of all export compliance programs. Serious penalties for noncompliance do exist in this area, even when it’s unintentional. It’s important that every exporter be aware of some basic best practices for effective and successful screening. Garbage In – Garbage Out… Data integrity is crucial! We’ve all heard the saying garbage…
Ready … Set … Stop! After being active for nearly a month, the new BIS Affiliates Rule is on “pause” until November 9, 2026. The Bureau of Industry and Security has suspended the implementation of the so-called “50% rule” for one year, starting November 10, 2025. This suspension was part of a trade agreement with…
Eight miles outside of Baltimore, along a railroad line dating back to late 1800s, lies a sleepy little town of just 10,000 people. You’ll find quiet, tree-lined streets. An old stone church. And just up the road, across from Panera Bread, in a nondescript, one-story brick industrial building, a few dozen employees work in a…
Individuals Can Be Debarred Too Most know that companies that violate the export regulations can be fined, penalized and lose their right to export. But did you know that not only companies, but individuals can also be held to that same standard? And that some of these individuals are located right here in the United…