If there is one thing I have learned from my time in the brokerage department, it is this:  Importing is not for the faint of heart.

This is not to say, however, that you should avoid the risks and rewards of importing; just be aware of the regulatory environment, educate yourself and develop your own best practices with the help of your broker.

Here are some recommendations to assist you in formulating your strategy for import success:

Entry

As a general rule, all merchandise imported into the United States is required to be entered, unless specifically exempt. The goal here is to provide Customs with enough information so that they are satisfied that everything is as it should be, and they release the shipment as quickly and painlessly as possible. (We’re talking about HS classification, declared value, rate of duty, and anything else they may require). BEST PRACTICES:

•          Select broker carefully

•          Research your product

•          Know Customs & OGA requirements

Cargo Clearance

When your broker transmits data to Customs to gain clearance, 1 of 3 things happens – 1) Broker may receive a ‘paperless’ (or immediate) release, 2) The shipment may go ‘documents required’ – meaning that submission of all commercial documents bill of lading, etc. is required by broker, 3) Customs exam required (e.g. verification and/or unloading of all items).                    BEST PRACTICES:

•          Make sure your shipment is ready for entry and will not raise any 'red flags'.

•          Consider benefits of AMS, etc.

•          Ensure proper documentation

Release / Delivery or Seizure

After an entry is filed, CBP has 5 working days from the date of presentation for examination to decide whether to release, seize or detain merchandise. Most shipments which are determined not in compliance can be corrected, be that marking/labeling issues, mis-classification, discrepancies in documentation etc.    BEST PRACTICES:

•          Rapid correspondence to CBP requests

•          Contact CBP after reasonable time period   (e.g. 2 working days)

•          Perform a post-entry audit

Entry Summary / Collection

Once a shipment is cleared, your broker typically has 10 days to submit duties to Customs. On documentation, it says ‘estimated duty’. Your shipment is not finished until liquidation occurs. (Legal acceptance of moneys owed). Once shipment is liquidated, Customs technically won’t come back to visit that shipment (but they can in certain instances).                      BEST PRACTICES:

•          Provide quality commodity descriptions

•          Give your broker quality document info

•          Be patient