QUESTION: I recently started a new job with a U.S. importer. The former trade compliance supervisor retired a few years ago but wasn’t replaced until very recently. In the interim, things ran on autopilot. I’ve begun poking around at the HTS database. There are several incorrectly classified items! The issue seems extensive, across various […]
QUESTION: Should the Import Dept report under the Logistics Dept? I’ve always understood that it should not, because the Logistics Dept will basically want to get the goods cleared asap, while the Import Dept must follow Customs regulations no matter what. Is it something like arms length? Or does Customs not care as long as […]
QUESTION: I am a licensed Customs Broker and have been in the business now for just over 9 years. To this point, I have been on the freight forwarding side but have recently taken a job as the TCM for a company in Virginia. A strong compliance program needs to be set up and I […]
QUESTION: We are reviewing and rightsizing our logistics and trade compliance org chart. How do others who have gone through this process develop job titles (coordinator, specialist, analyst, manager etc), define each role’s responsibilities, requirements, functions, characteristics etc. What is the difference between a coordinator, analyst and specialist? Logistics Coordinator Logistics Analyst Logistics Sr Analyst […]
QUESTION: For those of you with some form of TC Manual(s), how are they set up? Is it just a general policy document, with the actual procedures separate? Or are your procedures included in your manual? ========== Answers: There is no right answer to a manual format. To keep it simple and centralized our manual […]
QUESTION: I’ve been tasked with writing our corporate policy on Customs interactions worldwide. (When to notify Global Trade Compliance, etc) Does anyone have one they can share? I need inspiration. ============ Answers: It will be hard to share a compliance manual which includes multiple departments and 26 sections. It depends on how comprehensive you want the […]
OT Fact Sheet: Origin Certification Requirements QUESTION: I am reaching out to the membership to get feedback on reasons for why US holding companies, that traditionally may have a history of just acting as a financial consolidation/banking center, would begin to deploy a Trade Compliance Program for their US Subsidiaries (or all subsidiaries), when those […]
OT Fact Sheet: Origin Certification Requirements QUESTION: I need assistance/guidance in creating a compliance program for a company that manufactures items captured in CAT 5 part 1 and 2. What is the best practice in managing new product’s classification for hardware and software . For example: automated/system questionnaire for engineers. Any templates you can share? […]
QUESTION: Looking to know if when rolling out Trade Compliance General Awareness Training if you provide to the entire company or only those functions that interact or influence the trade compliance team? %%%%%%%%%% ANSWERS: The governmental sources and industry best practices consistently require (or at least suggest in guidelines) that trade compliance training reflect specific […]
QUESTION: I am interested in how the Compliance or import/export groups of the membership are structured with regard to salaried and hourly employees. Our group is strictly for Compliance. We have a manager, who is a licensed customs broker and two coordinators. The coordinators are responsible for auditing Customs entries (self-filed and brokered), advising on […]
QUESTION: Does the membership have any bench-marking on trade compliance staff headcount depending on the size of the organization and/or total imports/exports? ========== Answers: I have not seen one but I look forward to the benchmarking survey if there is one. The metrics that you should be looking at are: 1) # of entries and […]
QUESTION: In a response to a recent question regarding corporate compliance activity, one responder wrote: “We had our department’s employment agreement letter changed to read that our duties would be performed on behalf of the company, subsidiaries and related affiliates to cover the corporate compliance activity. Our department expense is tied to the corporate allocation […]
