Customs Compliance: Where Do You Start?

The importer of record is ultimately responsible for exercising reasonable care in their supply chain.

But as a full-service Customs broker and freight forwarder, we’re here to help!

An importer of record’s failure to exercise reasonable care could delay release of the merchandise and, in some cases, could result in the imposition of penalties or, in certain instances, referral for criminal enforcement…

– Informed Compliance Publication Reasonable Care (cbp.gov), pgs. 3, 7

Here are some key resources for shippers wanting to know more about what Customs compliance looks like for their supply chain:

Customs Compliance Resources

CBP’s website

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided a number of resources on their website to help shippers understand what is required of them.

1. Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs)

These publications address “What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About”…

Goods being imported

These ICPs are divided into categories such as:

• apparel
• machinery
• pharmaceuticals
• consumer products
• etc.

General topics related to shipping

• tariff classifications
• recordkeeping
• Customs value
• etc.

2. Withhold Release Orders and Findings List

CBP’s list of WROs and Findings identify the commodities from particular regions that CBP has reason to believe would likely be in violation of forced labor laws, and that will be subject to exclusion and/or seizure upon entry into the United States.

Trade law firms

Law firms that specialize in Customs and Trade Compliance can be a wealth of knowledge about current or pending legislation, and can be a valuable resource if you are ever in need of legal assistance.

The law firm of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., for example, issues newsletters, articles, and daily podcasts on supply chain and compliance topics.

While general updates do not constitute legal advice, these firms often have a deeper understanding than other public sources of how supply chain legislation is actually implemented, and what to expect or do next.

They also keep track of legislation that does not get as much media coverage, and can help importers be informed about issues and deadlines pertaining to their specific commodities.

Your Customs broker

As a Customs broker with decades of experience navigating compliance issues, our team can guide you through your compliance questions, or point you to the right party who can help.

C J International’s Corporate Compliance Officer: Samya Murray, LCB, CCS

sdmurray@cjinternational.com | (410) 963-3533

Contact Samya for compliance questions or to schedule a consultation — she will perform a mock audit with a compliance checklist, to help your company identify any gaps in your compliance procedures.

Our blog posts are for informational purposes only. While we use reasonable efforts to furnish accurate information, C J is not liable or responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information contained herein.