Question: Do you have a formal contract with your Customs Broker(s)? Of course there is the requirement to sign a Power of Attorney, a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and a Standard Operating Procedure. But is there any other official kind of contract you are using which provides for indemnification?Please share examples if you have one! Thank you! […]
Question: Over the past few months, we’ve been conducting a 100% audit of our broker’s entry summaries due to consistently high error rates. Despite ongoing feedback, we continue to observe an error rate of approximately 14% with recurring issues such as incorrect country of origin and HS code entries. Given this, we’re seeking to understand […]
Question: Can anyone share a template of questions to ask when selecting a new Customs broker? I am looking for both the US and Canada. Answer 1: Last time I did this, I didn’t have a template other than what’s in my head (a licensed broker for my entire career, worked both in brokerage and […]
Question: Would appreciate members sharing how their customs brokers have, or have not, assisted them in understanding and quantifying the potential and actual impact of the tariffs (i.e. reciprocal, IEEPA, CA non-USMCA, 301, 232, etc.) and whether their customs broker(s) have provided any other ongoing support. Thank you! Answer 1: I find that the broker […]
Question: Shipments (less than $2500.00 in most instances and occasionally =<$800 although may be regulated by FDA/USDA) arrive in the U.S. The seller of the goods, AB Corp Germany and the Sold to Party in the U.S. is CD Corp. Terms are DAP. The question is…Can AB Corp’s related company in the U.S. (EF company) […]
Question: My company went to a hybrid format after COVID. Upper management is now looking at permanently going 100% remote. My concern is what would CBP require from us for an “office of record”. What have other brokers done that have gone 100% remote? Do you list the home address of your corporate license holder/someone […]
Question: I am over import compliance for a Germany company in the US. My manager in Germany is looking to have our US process mirror their European process of gathering shipment & customs clearance data in Excel and manually send it to the broker for clearance of each new booking. I feel a broker EDI […]
Question: Regarding the annual letter customs brokers are to send to importers within a 12-month period, we have the required statement (see below) on our signature AND on our invoice to the importer, therefore, are we still required to send a separate letter? I’m receiving conflicting information. If you are the importer of record, payment […]
Question: I found a couple answers to a like question on ICPA. If each invoice has 5 lines of the same HS code, yes, the broker can enter one line with the total value per invoice, I filed entries for many years. It has been about 2 since I filed. I am being told by […]
Question: If the qualifying officers, license holder leaves the company, how long does CBP give for the replacement? When we submit the termination letter to CBP does a replacement need to be named? I’m getting conflicting information and per the regs. is looks like a replacement must be made within 120 days. Answer 1: You […]
Question: We are looking to do a deep dive into our import brokerage costs. However, a big obstacle is how our AP handles and records the broker invoices. Typically, broker invoices have a variety of line item costs, which I have created a list of categories broker fee/entry fee ISF filing fee other govt agency […]
Question: For filing a type 86 entry with same MBL and multiple HBL, how does the CHB community handle obtaining POA’s for each consignee listed and also, how does the parcel carriers handle the POA for shipments under $800? I am new to the concept and need to better understand the procedures. Appreciate your input […]
