The Customs Modernization Act (the “Mod Act”) of 1993 fundamentally altered the relationship between importers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by shifting to the importer, the legal responsibility for declaring the value, classification, and rate of duty applicable to entered merchandise. The Mod Act provided that CBP adopt a program of ‘informed compliance’ whereby CBP effectively communicates regulatory requirements to the importer, and the importer, in turn, uses ‘reasonable care’ to assure that CBP is provided with accurate and timely data pertaining to his or her importations.
Are you exercising ‘reasonable care’ with respect to merchandise description, tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, marking, quota and intellectual property rights?
Have you experienced import transaction delays due to incorrect, missing or otherwise inadequate entry documentation?
Have you assured that your merchandise complies with other government agencies’ requirements (e.g., FDA, FCC, EPA, CPSC, FTC, USDA, etc.) and obtained licenses or permits, if required, from them?
Import Management Consulting
Failure to exercise reasonable care can result in significant fines and penalties including shipment delays and even forfeitures of your imported merchandise. Get the expertise of Licensed Customs Brokers and import consultants to ensure you are maintaining a best-in-class import compliance program.
Focus Areas:
- Internal assessment and entry documentation audits
- Tariff classification (HTSUS) and Binding Ruling requests
- Country of origin and transaction value analysis
- NAFTA and Free Trade Agreement research and program compliance
- Assistance with other government agency requirements including FDA, FCC, CPSC, FTC, USDA and EPA
- Import compliance training programs (U.S. and abroad)
- Development of policies, processes and procedures
Compliance Assurance can assess your current level of import compliance, recommend and implement best demonstrated practices to ensure your compliance with CBP and related government agency requirements.
Client Benefits:
- Reduced imported materials costs
- Eliminate customs holds on imported merchandise
- Eliminate fines and penalties associated with noncompliance
U.S. companies are importing at record levels and the trend is expected to continue well into the future. Don’t wait for a letter from CBP Fines Penalties and Forfeitures (FP&F) to learn about U.S. import laws and regulations the hard way. Call us to find out how our import regulations experts can help you achieve your import compliance goals now.
Supply Chain Security / C-TPAT
After September 11, 2001, the U.S. Customs Service was merged with border enforcement agencies under the Department of Homeland Security as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In addition to its traditional role of protecting the nation’s revenue by assessing and collecting duties, taxes and fees incident to international trade, CBP’s focus now comprises homeland security initiatives including the detection, deterrence and prevention of terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States. CBP administers a number of supply chain security programs including the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Importer Security Filing “10+2”, designed to work with the importer business community to carry out its homeland security role.
The 2010 a University of Virginia, Center for Survey Research survey commissioned by CBP revealed that more a third of U.S. importers reported that their participation in C-TPAT has decreased their number of Customs inspections.
Whether you are looking to improve reduce loss due to theft and pilferage or obtaining C-TPAT Tier Three status, import consultants at Compliance Assurance can assess your readiness and work with your team to achieve the level of supply chain security you require.