The Importance of Paying Attention to Export Control
December 11, 2018.
Trade Publications
In March of 2018 Konstantin Chekhovskoi was arrested at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on his way home to Russia and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. In his checked baggage were more than $100,000 in ammunition, parts, and accessories designed for assault rifles. Mr. Chekhovskoi had not received...
Read MoreBREXIT: DEAL OR NO DEAL?
December 10, 2018.
Trade Publications
The "British exit from the European Union" is the ongoing withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) following a referendum that was held on June 23, 2016. The vote was close with 52% of the population voting to leave and 48% voting to stay. In order for the UK to...
Read MoreThe Fate of NAFTA: Threats and Reality
August 29, 2018.
Trade Publications
On Monday August 27th, 2018 the Trump administration announced that it had reached a “preliminary agreement in principle” with Mexico. Hailed as the US- Mexico Trade Agreement, the preliminary deal promotes streamlining certification and verification of rules of origin requirements, particularly in the automotive sector. Per the United...
Read MoreThe Breakdown – Section 232 and Sections 301
August 28, 2018.
Trade Publications
Section 232: What is it? In 1962, Congress passed a piece of legislation called the Trade Expansion Act which was generally intended to do just that, expand trade. It gave President Kennedy the authority to cut or eliminate tariffs on many goods. The purpose of this act, like all others, is...
Read MoreBottom Line Costs with Shipping to and from China
August 20, 2018.
Logistics Publications, Trade Publications
“Made in China,” seeing this printed on a variety of goods brings up a variety of thoughts from about moving USA products overseas, varying quality of goods, reduced costs on electronics and clothing, etc. For decades, the USA has been intricately intertwined with the mega trading partner that...
Read MoreCorpses, Telecom and Space Junk: Exceptions to HTS Classification
July 16, 2018.
Trade Publications
Unless someone has experience in the trade compliance world, they would be hard pressed to find a similarity between the items listed above. However, to someone familiar with Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, these articles go together like a well-matched set of luggage. These items, along with a...
Read MoreStay at the Front Lines of the Trade War
June 07, 2018.
Trade Publications
On March 8, 2018 the president issued proclamations 9704 and 9705 under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. These orders provided for 25% additional import duties for specified steel products and 10% additional import duty on specified Aluminum products from all countries including Mexico and Canada. On May 31, the United States lifted the exemption from...
Read MoreWhat Every Importer Should Know About TSCA
June 01, 2018.
Trade Publications
What is TSCA? In 1976, the US Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), mandating the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the manufacture and import of chemicals. The goal of this legislation was to protect the American people from “unreasonable risk of injury to health or...
Read MoreShedding Light on FDA LED Regulations
May 24, 2018.
Trade Publications
With the New Year upon us, new regulations are coming into force. One of these that affect businesses operating across borders is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) reporting requirements for all products classified under 8541.40.2000 (light-emitting diodes-LEDs). The FDA is requiring the name and physical...
Read MoreAre Your Charges Dutiable?
May 11, 2018.
Trade Publications
All importers are required to pay a percentage duty on the value of their imported merchandise, so determining the accurate value is a vital step in the entry process. When most goods come into the United States, an ad valorem (or percentage based) duty is assigned based...
Read MoreBrazil Strikes Affect Imports
May 09, 2018.
Trade Publications
Brazilian federal tax auditors will be on strike from May 8, to May 10 and from May 15, to May 17, as they dispute salary bonuses. Customs will be affected at Brazilian ports and airports, which will lead to delays. One way to mitigate delays is to make sure that all documentation (invoices,...
Read MoreRecordkeeping In A Digital Age
April 27, 2018.
Trade Publications
Records are an invaluable source of information and are normally regarded as a liquid asset of any organization. Good recordkeeping is equally vital in regards to the maintenance of integrity, transparency, and accountability as “evidence of a transaction,” and also in enhancing organizational...
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