Customs Brokerage Services

If you think compliance is simply a cost center, look no further than what’s happening with Temu and Shein. A Congressional oversight committee report called out the Chinese behemoth marketplaces in 2023 for failing “to maintain even the facade of a meaningful compliance program.” The result? Scrutiny, legal risk, and reputational damage. But let’s be clear—this isn’t just about two companies. For importers, customs brokers, and marketplaces alike, compliance isn’t optional. Compliance is not only the backbone of any company with an international supply chain, but it actually can be the difference between going big and going home. Why do compliance programs matter? 👉 For Importers: - Forced labor bans, de minimis restrictions, and tariff changes are evolving - Compliance programs allow you to implement agility quickly, and be ready to pivot alongside fast-changing changing regulations - Without a compliance program, you could be shipping goods that violate U.S. or other laws—leading to seizures, fines, and loss of supplier relationships Temu’s risk? It could be yours. If your supply chain isn’t fully traceable, how do you know your goods are compliant? The answer: prioritizing master data and proactive screening 👉 For Customs Brokers: - If your clients get hit with compliance violations, you do too (it's your license on the line after all) - You’re expected to be the expert in regulatory shifts like Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), tariff exclusions, and de minimis eligibility changes - A strong compliance program ensures you’re not just processing entries—you’re protecting your clients and your business 👉 For Marketplaces: - Your entire platform is at risk if you don’t enforce compliance on sellers - Temu’s “we’re not the importer of record” argument is falling apart—lawmakers are making it clear that marketplaces facilitating noncompliant imports will face consequences - If you aren’t vetting suppliers and enforcing compliance rules, your marketplace could be next in the crosshairs The bottom line? Compliance can't be an afterthought. Temu and Shein have been getting their act together since this report. Their situation is a warning: If you don’t build a strong compliance program proactively, it will be forced upon you reactively. I help companies secure their transactions at origin, validate supplier compliance, and ensure smooth customs clearance—companies have launched my program as quickly as 60 days. #customscompliance #tariffs #ecommerce

It usually starts small. A wrong HS code.  A missing origin statement.  A supplier who didn’t update their documents on time. And then it snowballs. What should have been a routine declaration turns into a delay at the border. The delay becomes a missed delivery. The missed delivery becomes a contractual penalty. And before long, Finance is facing fines, seized goods, or a damaged AEO status. I recently heard from a company that learned this the hard way: one misclassified shipment led to weeks of delay and a six-figure penalty. Not because they didn’t care, but because they didn’t catch the mistake early enough. That’s the thing about customs: when it works, it’s invisible. When it doesn’t, it’s expensive. Customs fines, demurrage, duty reclaims, lost authorisations, these aren’t just compliance issues. They’re business performance issues. The smartest teams I speak with are shifting their approach: ✔️ Regularly auditing their declarations and supplier data  ✔️ Automating error checks instead of relying on manual reviews  ✔️ Treating compliance not as a cost but as protection against financial risk Because in today’s regulatory climate, the real risk isn’t getting caught, it’s not knowing what’s going wrong. 

The tariff isn’t your problem. The enforcement that follows is. You can debate politics. But if your supply chain touches China or India, you're already in the blast zone. When tariffs get thrown around at the top, enforcement agencies act fast at the bottom. CBP tightens scrutiny. FDA doesn’t wait for confirmation. And suddenly, your labels, your country-of-origin, and your documentation all go under the microscope. After the entry is cleared the CBP zooms in deeper with their Requests for documentation on Origin, Valuation, Classification, Failing to Cross your T’s This isn’t about policy theory. It’s about operational reality…consequences. If you’re not ready, here’s where to start: ▶ Audit every label for misbranding or risky claims ▶ Reassess sourcing from China and India, including backups ▶ Verify tariff classifications are current and defensible ▶ Prepare Customs origin and valuation documentation for post-entry level scrutiny ▶ Train your internal teams like they’re already under inspection The tariff is the match. Enforcement is the fire. Don’t wait to get burned before you act. #tariffs #china #india #tradecompliance #importexport #regulatorystrategy #fda #cbp #customs #supplychainrisk #globaltrade #riskmanagement #labeling #leadership

While welcoming today's announcement regarding the temporary tariff structure between the U.S. and China I was reminded that this can have significant implications on global supply chain security. The team at Overhaul conducted a quick risk assessment based on the latest news, highlighting the following key points: - The Backlog Effect: With the resumption of significant volumes of cargo movement, there may be surges at major ports, high congestion in distribution centers, and limited transport capacity due to the clearance of previously stalled cargo. - A Prime Window for Cargo Criminals: The period of instability creates opportunities for supply chain crime, with vulnerabilities such as unattended containers, last-minute rerouting, and increased use of under-vetted carriers. - High-Value Targets: Items like semiconductors, AI hardware, EV batteries, medical devices, and luxury goods are at risk of being targeted by criminal networks for theft and fraud. - What to Watch in the Next 30–90 Days: Expect spikes in cargo thefts along re-entry corridors, fraudulent forwarding and brokerage scams, and an increase in cyber-attacks targeting cargo tracking tools. Overhaul recommends the following measures to address the operational risks: - Review SOPs for delayed cargo release and verify carrier credentials. - Implement dual-authentication processes for pickups. - Utilize IoT tracking devices for high-value loads. - Monitor open-source intelligence and dark web activity around major port releases. In summary, while the tariff reduction brings relief, it also poses operational risks. Logistics leaders are advised to approach the next 30 days as a high-risk transition period, emphasizing visibility, verification, and deterrence to combat potential theft, fraud, and infiltration by criminal groups. Overhaul

Ever seen a $365 million typo? That’s what the wrong HS code looks like on a customs bill As someone who’s defended Fortune boards in closed‑door customs investigations, I’ve learned the biggest risks hide in plain sight. Know the truth. Here’s what you need to understand: 1. Using the wrong HS code is not harmless.  ↳ Customs will not always re-classify it.   ↳ Misclassifying can lead to huge fines. For example, a company paid US $365 million in March 2024 for misclassifying Transit Connect vans. 2. FTA preference does not apply automatically.  ↳ Just because a product ‘originates’ does not mean you are safe.   ↳ Importers must have a valid Certificate of Origin. Missing this can trigger duty reversals and penalties that cost millions. 3. Relying on your customs broker is a mistake.  ↳ The Importer of Record (IOR) holds strict liability for entry data.   ↳ Even if a broker files the entry, you are still responsible. The DOJ is increasing enforcement against IORs who rely on “rubber-stamp” brokers. This can lead to lost time, trust issues, and costly audits. The math is simple: every 1 % duty error on a $100 M import program equals $1 M of silent margin leakage By addressing these myths, executives can turn compliance into a strategic advantage. This can help avoid eight-figure surprises and improve duty management. Want the Rapid Checklist? DM me. CTA: If you found this helpful, follow for more trade compliance insights.

Eric Johnson's latest article spotlights the growing scrutiny on customs brokers, but what intrigues me most is Cindy Allen's point about the real challenge: meeting the ‘reasonable care’ standard for deminimis entries. Brokers are dependent on client-provided information, making it tough to ensure compliance. CBP now expects brokers to have deeper insights into their clients’ operations, supply chains, and the goods they import. To meet these demands, brokers need advanced systems capable of detecting compliance risks—such as potential transshipment, country of origin, misclassification, and forced labor exposures—in real-time, even with limited or poor data. This includes the capability to identify signals of non-compliance that may lurk deep in the outer tiers of the product-specific value chains so they can flag issues before declarations are filed or, better yet, before accepting a booking or onboarding a new importer client. While the technology to gain these insights *IS* available, brokers seem hesitant to invest without CBP incentives. Yet, an important incentive may lie in being able to differentiate themselves by offering reliable, compliant solutions, and innovative value-added services to meet the evolving regulatory needs and mitigate the increasing risk of delays, disruptions, and security breaches. It’s been a while since I filed an entry, but it seems to me that brokers who seize this opportunity to invest in advanced technologies could not only meet regulatory demands but also gain a competitive edge in this new era of customs oversight. #deminimis #reasonablecare #customsbroker

Your cargo broker just sent three options. ICC A, B or C You need to pick one by end of day. Many people pick C. It is the cheapest line on the quote sheet and the meeting is in ten minutes. That decision has cost clients more than the premium savings ever justified. Here is how to actually choose: 1. Start with the cargo, not the price ☑ Ask one question before you look at the premium: What are the realistic ways this specific cargo gets damaged on this specific route? ↳ The answer to that question is your clause. Not the budget. 2. If the cargo moves through ports with heavy manual handling ☑ Packages get dropped. Containers get left in rain. Things go overboard: ICC C will not touch any of that. ICC B covers washing overboard and water ingress. ICC A covers the rest. ↳ The handling risk alone often eliminates ICC C before anything else. 3. If the route crosses open water in volatile seasons ☑ Sea and river water entering the hold is a named peril under ICC B and A only: ICC C requires the vessel to sink entirely before it responds. ↳ Ask yourself honestly. How likely is that versus water ingress on a rough crossing? 4. If the cargo is high value or difficult to replace ☑ Theft and unexplained shortage are ICC A only: Neither B nor C will respond to pilferage or a shortage without a clear external cause. ↳ If your cargo disappears quietly, only ICC A was ever going to pay. 5. If the premium difference is the conversation ☑ Run the numbers properly before the meeting: Take the cargo value. Take the difference in premium between C and A. ↳ Ask how many claims ICC C would decline before you break even on that saving. 6. If you are still unsure ☑ That uncertainty is the answer: Uncertainty means the risk profile is not clean enough for a named perils clause. ↳ Unnamed risks do not stay unnamed when the claim arrives. ICC A exists for exactly that. 7. The clause you choose today ☑ Will be read by an insurer under pressure on the worst day of your client's shipment: Not by you. Not in a calm office with the quote sheet in front of you. ↳ Choose it like that person is already reading it. The one-page comparison that makes this decision faster: Step 1: Download the free ICC A vs B vs C cheat sheet below Step 2: Match your cargo type to the peril column that fits Step 3: Eliminate the clauses that leave your biggest risk uncovered Step 4: Take the free quiz on tryedward.com after you download Step 5: Note which perils you were uncertain about Step 6: Those are the gaps your next client is currently exposed to Step 7: Re-read those sections. Quiz yourself again in seven days. Step 8: Send this to whoever on your team handles policy selection Step 9: Never choose a clause by price alone again Free download: https://lnkd.in/dUvxgn56 Quiz unlocks automatically on tryedward.com after download. The insurer will not ask what you intended to cover. Only what the clause says.

Outsourcing your compliance? That’s like letting the neighbor pick your tomatoes-expect surprises. When you grow a garden, you know your plants. You watch the tomatoes ripen, you check for pests, and you decide when they’re ready to pick. Would you trust someone else, who doesn’t know your garden, to do it for you? Probably not. Trade compliance works the same way. Relying entirely on a customs broker or supplier to handle compliance is risky. 🔹 A customs broker might not know your products as well as you do. Misclassification? Wrong duty payments? Both can lead to costly mistakes. 🔹 Supplier-provided documentation isn’t always accurate. Incomplete or incorrect data can cause customs delays-or worse, penalties. 🔹 Ultimately, the importer/exporter is responsible for compliance, not the broker. Here’s the solution: Take ownership of your compliance processes. Build internal knowledge and treat compliance like tending a garden. ✅ Learn about your products (like understanding your plants). Proper classification and documentation start with you. ✅ Collaborate with your customs brokers-they’re a partner, not the sole decision-maker. Regular communication is key. ✅ Schedule team meetings to align on compliance priorities. Think of it as checking on your garden’s growth. A well-tended garden yields the best tomatoes. Similarly, a well-managed compliance program nurtured by knowledgeable internal teams produces fewer surprises and better outcomes. What steps are you taking to nurture your “compliance garden”? I am Elizabeth Lomax, import/export compliance expert helping pharma and biotech companies create more efficient international supply chains. DM me or visit my LinkedIn profile to learn more. To stay updated, click the notification bell on my profile. 🔔

Importers: Are You Unknowingly Violating CBP Regulations? Many importers aren’t aware that a Power of Attorney (POA) for customs clearance must be executed directly with the licensed customs broker — not through a freight forwarder (unless they are a broker) or any third party. This is a strict requirement under 19 CFR § 111.36(c)(3). IF YOU ARE BUYING LDP, DO NOT PROVIDE A POWER OF ATTORNEY TO THE SELLER'S THIRD PARTY OR HAVE SHIPMENTS CLEARED IN YOUR NAME SINCE YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL DECLARATIONS TO CBP AS IMPORTER OF RECORD. Let’s break this down: 📌 What the Regulation Says: Customs brokers are prohibited from accepting a POA that was obtained by a third party, such as a non-customs broker licensed freight forwarder. The customs broker must have a direct POA with the importer of record. 📌 Why This Matters: If a freight forwarder (that is not a licensed broker) — let’s say “Rain Forest Forwarder” — presents you with a POA for their in-house broker, such as “SOSO Brokers,” and you sign it, you are not in compliance with CBP regulations. The POA must be directly between you and the broker. Often, importers assume the forwarder is the customs broker, leading to confusion and lack of reasonable care in CBP’s eyes. If CBP pulls your entry and asks who your broker is — and you reply “Rain Forest” — but SOSO Brokers filed the entry, that could demonstrate a compliance failure on your part. ⚠️ The Risk to You: Violating 19 CFR § 111.36(c)(3) Failure to exercise “reasonable care” as required under 19 U.S.C. § 1484 Potential audits, penalties, or delays in cargo clearance Being misled into authorizing a broker relationship you never intended 💡 Best Practice: Always execute a POA directly with your licensed customs broker. Ask them to confirm their license and maintain open communication. No third party should interfere with or act as a conduit for that relationship. At the end of the day, compliance is your responsibility as the importer. Make sure you’re protected — and adequately aligned with CBP regulations. #LDP #importer #Duty #customs #CBP #powerofattorney #customscompliance #importcompliance #reasonablecare.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision is a timely reminder of a basic reality in U.S. customs law: If you are the Importer of Record (IOR), the burden is yours. Customs will liquidate entries, assess duties, and move on. If classification, valuation, tariff treatment, or AD/CVD application is wrong, the IOR must preserve its rights and affirmatively claim relief. The timeline matters: Many entries liquidate within ~300 days (often faster) After liquidation, the IOR generally has 180 days to file a protest. If you are not actively monitoring liquidation dates, you are effectively allowing deadlines to govern outcomes rather than strategy. A practical point many importers still underestimate: entry fragmentation creates risk. If your freight forwarder and broker are filing unnecessarily split entries, you’re creating more liquidation events, more deadlines, and more opportunities to miss a protest window. Best practice is straightforward: work with your forwarder and broker to consolidate entries appropriately and reduce administrative exposure. #TradeCompliance #Customs #ImporterOfRecord #Tariffs #SupplyChain #TradeLaw #xPhase https://lnkd.in/gC9TccGT