Every Independence Day, communities across the country celebrate with one of America’s favorite traditions: fireworks displays. Depending on the size of the event, a professional fireworks show can cost anywhere from $5,000 for a small municipal display to well over $100,000 for large city celebrations. Major metropolitan displays can easily exceed several hundred thousand dollars….
Where Does Your Coffee Come From? Nearly two-thirds of American adults drink coffee every day. For many of us, that morning cup is as routine as brushing our teeth. But how often do we stop and ask a simple question, ‘Where did this coffee come from, and how was it harvested?’ More importantly, could forced…
President Trump touted that tariff was one of his favorite words and he has been doing everything in his power to have additional tariffs stick on certain products and/or countries since the beginning of his second time in office. Earlier this month, the White House hosted a Small Business Summit. I saw some of the…
Your import bond is not just a formality or a good-looking paper to wave around showing your friends. It’s your license to operate, it’s your bond, shaken not stirred. Ok, maybe a few too many 007 references, but let’s clear some things up about CUSTOMS BONDS! An import bond is not just a box you…
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…
The game of deception is a bad guy’s favorite game. The lengths of trouble that these people will go to in order to violate the law is extraordinary. Whether it is firearms, drugs or even money, their skills at trying to deceive U.S. Customs or BIS is quite astounding. I have witnessed some of their…
The U.S. government’s recent decision to increase Section 301 tariffs on certain Chinese imports is a significant development in the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. While aimed at addressing long-standing trade issues, these tariffs also raise concerns for importers who rely on Chinese goods. Understanding Section 301 Tariffs Section 301 of…
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? A clearance delay occurs when U.S. Customs holds your shipment, preventing its final delivery. While this is a…