• CORP INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM – ITAR & CUSTOMS

    QUESTION: Our company is looking to expand its internal audit program to include ITAR and Import/Export Compliance.  I have never worked for a company that has trade compliance integrated into internal audit.  It has always been a director or manager of trade compliance that acts as the “auditor” in most cases for the trade compliance […]

  • COMPLIANCE TIME METRICS

    QUESTION: I am looking for time studies of various Compliance functions. For example, on average, how long does it take to classify a product in the HTS? I realize that when you are classifying items, some will be very easy, but some are very complex, and will require a lot of time. If anyone has […]

  • COMPLIANCE ORG CHART

    QUESTION: My company wants me to benchmark trade compliance departments with other firms. I’d appreciate if the trade community share their company’s trade compliance organizational structure. What is the name of your department?   Is it broken out by role & function; such as import / export / CTPAT / NAFTA / FTZ roles?   […]

  • CORPORATE FUNCTION COMPLIANCE

    QUESTION: We are looking at realigning our trade compliance function at corporate and each of our separate legal entities (20+).  Corporate is a holding company and each of the companies we oversee in the US are separate legal entities.  There are concerns corporate will not be able to assist the legal entities with certain activities […]

  • COMPLIANCE READING LIST

    QUESTION: I’ve been doing other forms of compliance ( FDA, CDC mostly) for the last 2 years. I’m looking seriously at getting back into import compliance for an importer who needs somebody who knows their way around the FDA and the import side. Can I get a suggested reading list for: – Changes resulting from the move […]

  • TOLLERS COMPLIANCE PROCESS

    QUESTION: Does anyone with the membership have experience with dealing with Tollers? If so is there a check list of the due diligence items required for Tollers. Is there anything specific from trade compliance stand point? ========== Answer: I am assuming that you are referring to a supplier that processes raw materials or semi-finished goods […]

  • COMPLIANCE TRAINING

    Question:   I am being asked to provide training on trade compliance in general to the business overseas.  I think sanctioned screening may be the subject of interest.  Any recommendations from our membership and or trainings templates that you willing to share ? Also, I would appreciate if any of our membership have any DOs […]

  • C-LEVEL COMMITMENT

    Question: We just went through a thorough Customs audit and have identified the areas where improvement and change is needed. The current person in charge of imports does not have the knowledge to accurately do the job. Compliance has suggested several times that we hire someone competent in import compliance, but time and time again […]

  • ROLE OF TRADE COMPLIANCE

    Question: I am being asked to present what is trade compliance – the role of import and export and what it means to the organization.  Does anyone have a PPT presentation or something written up that willing to share ?   *************** The role of import  trade compliance is to ensure that Reasonable Care is followed […]

  • QUESTION ON TRADE COMPLIANCE ORG STRUCTURE

    Question: Based on your experience what is the best & most effective Organizational Structure for the Customs/Trade Compliance Function? Should it be centralized (Corp Led) or de-centralized (within divisions/business units/locations, etc)? What function does trade compliance report into whether at Corporate or within divisions – (e.g., legal, finance/controllership, tax, etc.)? How are day-to-day execution of […]

  • COMPLIANCE MANUAL FORMAT

    Question: Can someone advise what’s the general format of the trade compliance manual? Do we need to put the regulations and rules at front and then our trade procedure?  Some people argued that it’s necessary to have regulations in the manual.  Can we just reference the codes of the regulations in the manual?  The regulations […]

  • TRADE COMPLIANCE STRATEGY

    Question: We are looking to better understand how other companies are managing this same challenge in pharmaceuticals/Biotech, or another “like” industry.  Most recently the conversation about Trade Compliance has turned to organizational structure and operating model.    Here is a list of the type of information that we are looking for:   ·         Global presence […]