The Importer Security Filing (ISF filing) applies to all incoming cargo to the United States by Ocean Vessel. ISF filing was first introduced in 2009 and officially went into effect late in 2010. ISF was put in place for targeting and security purposes only and does not necessarily effect trade enforcement [...]
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 [...]
The logistics of getting your goods from supplier to warehouse is a big part of importing. Sea, air, or land, insured or uninsured, LCL or FCL — you have a lot of decisions to make. How do you know what’s right for you? Your customs broker partner — that's us — can [...]
As we are now a few months out from the initial COVID-19 outbreak, it’s clear that importers are reckoning with shifts in the market. All things considered, it’s an opportune time to look into an overview of the identifiable impacts of the pandemic on the industry so far, perhaps [...]
Most importers will be familiar with ocean transport for commercial goods in one way or another. Ocean shipping has been a central mode of moving goods throughout the world for centuries! Today, we see an increased reliance on ocean shipping in the advent of the pandemic. Even more so in [...]
Every business wants their goods delivered quickly, efficiently, and if they can avoid any shipping snafu, all the better. But it's no secret at all to importers that delays were common due to the pandemic, along with other supply chain issues. Aside from these delays, the other issue at hand [...]
Shipping container fires are a growing concern for the marine shipping industry, which has reported 70 shipping container fires and counting over the past five years. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer, the risk of fire and explosions now ranks #3 on the list of top business risks in marine [...]
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has published a report detailing the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on U.S. supply chains. The document, titled Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade: 2023 Annual Report, includes specific discussions on retail supply chains, e-commerce, logistics, warehousing, maritime shipping, port services, trucking [...]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to significantly increase the fees for its AQI program, which assures that cargo and passenger baggage entering the country is inspected for plant pests and potential sources of animal diseases that could affect U.S. agriculture, trade [...]
An intense and prolonged drought in Panama has caused a worldwide shipping backlog as hundreds of ships wait to cross the canal, and logistics experts are predicting that the impact will likely continue for the rest of the year and into 2024. The Panama Canal is the primary route for [...]
