Imagine speeding your way through customs. Believe it or not, as unattainable as it may seem to travel your way through customs at a respectable speed—especially post 9-11, and especially for new businesses—with time, patience, and the help of a qualified customs broker, you’d be surprised how simple it can [...]
If you’re a US importer, no matter the scale of your business, it’s more likely than not that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will audit your operations and your transactional compliance at some point. They may look for a history of compliance errors, poorly defined and documented internal control procedures, [...]
It may or may not come to you as a surprise that the United States is party to many international free-trade agreements (FTAs). In fact, the US is a leader of the free-trade movement, and operates in accordance with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (a legal agreement between [...]
Gone are the days of setting up shop at a brick and mortar store down the street. If you’re starting a business, making sales can be as simple as setting up a website. It’s no secret that having an import/export business can be extremely profitable -- especially if you do [...]
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 [...]
Well, think again. While it might not seem immediately obvious to you, especially if you’re a small importing company, customs brokers are a valuable piece to the puzzle if you want to run a smooth operation. Why? Because they’re the people who will take on the responsibility of making sure [...]
So, you’re thinking about contacting a customs broker. Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a Non-Resident importer, or you’re looking into importing personal goods as a resident. Maybe your business is growing to the point where handling customs is too big on your own — congratulations! — or perhaps you’re interested [...]
Ecommerce is booming, and it doesn’t look like the online shopping momentum is about to end any time soon. Amazon, in particular, is a pack leader; the online retailer has completely changed how we think about shopping and selling. It’s such a powerhouse that Amazon’s net sales were $178 billion [...]
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 [...]
