Question: For importers who don’t have inhouse expertise to classify products, how common is it for their broker to classify for them? Are most brokers willing to classify their client’s products? If so, what is a typical fee for doing so? Answer 1: Based on my experience, it’s very common for a customs broker to […]
Question: Hello ICPA Members, Recently, our company received a notice from UPS that in order for us to use our preferred import broker for a shipment delivering via UPS’s services, we need to complete an “alternate broker authorization form” and pay them a fee of $115 (plus an additional $85 for IT bond). Essentially, UPS […]
Question: How does your organization manage customs brokerage services while using multiple freight forwarders? Do you use only use one broker and have each forwarder conduct document turnovers to the sole broker or do you typically use the brokerage services if offered by each freight forwarder? Answer 1: We provide an annual routing guidelines to […]
Question: My company currently has a number of big projects going to Central America in 2024. In total it is estimated to be roughly 500 containers and 100 crates. We have had difficulty supporting our customers in these areas because of unfamiliarity with customs in these countries (specifically Guatemala). Often times our shipments are held […]
Question: Today for our 1000s of US to Canada shipments and vice versa, our 3PLs print a copy of the proforma invoice and gives to the driver. The driver adds the PARS and send documents to our broker. Our internal instructions are for the warehouse to send us a copy of the proforma and BL […]
Question: Does anyone have any idea as to what is involved in setting up EDI/VPN connectivity with CBP for ACE access? I am looking to start my own brokerage business (intention is to file entries via ACE among other services) however, I am not an IT person and clueless as to what the requirements listed […]
Question: Hello – Curious to know how forwarders handle the shipper on the HBL / HAWB for a buyers consol. It is routed of course – do you show the FPPI as the shipper/consignee or the buyer c/o consolidator. Would like to know how others are handling this. Thanks! Answer 1: The FPPI is never […]
Question: Hello – Is there a template for a global Customs Brokerage RFI (request for information)? Or something that can be shared during the RFQ process for freight/brokers? Thanks. Answer 1: You can find something like this in the ICPA Answer database. I input “brokerage RFP” in the answer database search engine and about […]
Question: I remember that U.S. customs brokers were required to keep a compliance rate of 93-97% (don’t remember the exact figure). Was this an industry standard or a CBP requirement? Does anyone recall what the correct compliance rate was/is supposed to be? Is/are there any publication(s) that support this requirement? Answer 1: 3% error rate […]
Question: We are a customs broker (CB) and a freight forwarder (FF), two different IRS numbers, both under the same corp. umbrella. Our power of attorney has the confidentiality (111.24) and invoice (111.36) waivers. We are reviewing best practices and have a question regarding internal invoicing. Option 1: The FF creates the shipment uploads all […]
Question: We are looking to provide a unique (for us) service on a very limited, one-time product offering. I may need to possibly engage with a forwarder/broker service provider to help us, if we can, clear customs and deliver direct to the foreign consumer. This is for a limited scope of destination countries (which I […]
Question: Looking for anyone that may have experience or insights into import brokerage into Japan. We export to our sister company in Japan from both Canada and the US. One of our challenges is that they do not consistently using the same import broker for each shipment or customer. It sounds like whichever company they […]
