With all of the duties and fees one would normally pay out to import goods, it’s nice to know that there’s at least one scenario that can send money back in the other direction.“What is this mysterious refunding of money,” you ask? In the importation business, it’s what’s known as [...]
Every week, we come on here and tell you about the multitude of scenarios in which customs brokers can improve the efficiency of just about any importation situation. Part of our role in what we do is to clearly define how we can facilitate getting items through, you guessed it, [...]
‘Twas the night before Christmas and people all across the United States were still stirring — several hundred decibels louder than a mouse — to get all of their traditional holiday goods across the U.S. border in time for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Though we’re already well into [...]
We’re a little over a week into 2019 already, and we all know what that means: it’s make-or-break time for everyone’s New Year’s resolutions! If you’re one of the many who aspire to exercise more, take up a new hobby, or finally clean up that one room in your home [...]
January 1, 2019 was an exciting holiday in the United States. We’re not talking about New Years -- January 1st marked Public Domain Day, where published and copyrighted works entered the public domain in America for the first time in over 20 years. This little-understood piece of copyright law means [...]
In 2009, the CBP introduced a new rule detailing requirements for importers dealing with containerized cargo. Developed as a national security measure, the rule requires importers to transmit key pieces of information to the CBP so that the threat of the cargo can be assessed with each shipment. Known as [...]
Customs brokers are regulated and authorized by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to do our jobs. We’re licensed — we’ve passed all the exams — and we’re professionals, but we don’t actually work for CBP or the federal government. When you, an importer, contact a customs broker, we need [...]
You’ve filed all the right documents. You’ve given your customs broker Power of Attorney. You’ve done everything right, you think — and then comes the notice: you’re being audited by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. What? Before you panic, you should know that despite a not-uncommon misunderstanding, being selected for [...]
The Mitsubishi FTO. The Subaru WRX STI. The Opel Tigra. Beyond being cool cars, these models — and a slew of others — have something in common: they’re only becoming eligible to import this year. This is thanks to a legal clause known as the 25-year rule, which states that certain [...]
Avocados from Mexico. Cherries from Canada. Lamb from New Zealand. Imported candy, foreign condiments, and rare snacks — the average American has developed a truly international palette for imported food. Improvements in the cold chain have led to kitchens being stocked year-round with foods that our great-grandparents would never dream [...]
