Expanding into international markets is a worthwhile business decision. There is no need to occupy a physical address in the country whose market you wish to become involved in either. By registering to become a non-resident importer (NRI), you can do all your business from the comfort of your home [...]
Commercial importing can feel like a sea of paperwork. Declarations, invoices, permits, bonds… trying to navigate every aspect of clearing customs on your own can feel like you’re swimming against the current. Luckily, customs brokers are experts in everything to do with clearing your shipments. In order to clear up [...]
Generally, when we think about the export - import cycle, we picture international trade, ecommerce, and permanent imports. That does take up a generous bulk of the export - import activity around the globe and here at home, so it certainly isn’t an incorrect mental picture, but it’s not a [...]
Temporary imports, while generally not what most people would think of when they think about imports, are a key kind of import that allows companies and professionals to bring in samples, equipment, and prototypes without being charged duty they otherwise would have to pay. Because a temporary import will not [...]
When importing, trying to work around expensive duty fees isn’t always easy. If what you’re importing is valued under $800 USD or less, however, you may not have to pay duty -- or even declare a formal entry -- on your goods! While this is a great deal for anyone [...]
Like it or not, whether you’re shipping by land, sea or air, there’s always a possibility that your cargo will be damaged along the way. There’s no way of completely guaranteeing safe cargo. You can’t control natural disasters, weather anomalies, human error, or, if you’re unlucky, dishonest shippers. Just a [...]
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 gone over all your documents… you think. You’ve got the right tariff codes… you’re pretty sure. You haven’t forgotten anything… right? Maybe not, but maybe you have, and unless you’re using a Reasonable Care Checklist, you have no way of knowing. Not watching your Reasonable Care duties doesn’t just [...]
Tariffs always seem to be on the mind lately. New tariffs being imposed, old tariffs being renegotiated, tariffs as a good thing, tariffs as a bad thing… ...But who has to pay all these tariffs? How do you even know what goods are subject to tariffs in the first place? [...]
Maybe you’re looking to expand your offering — maybe you’re looking for your next challenge. You might have gotten the idea from a business partner, seen it work for another company, or maybe you’re just curious about it. No matter what, starting an import business seems like a good idea. [...]
