Tag: Customs Duties
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Section 232 and Its Lasting Impact 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent on aluminum from most countries have fundamentally altered cost structures for manufacturers, fabricators, and distributors. The tariffs apply to primary products and certain downstream articles. Scope of Section 232 Tariffs Steel tariffs cover flat-rolled, long, tubular, stainless, wire, and semifinished products.…
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Food and Beverage Importing Is Different F&B products face extensive FDA regulation, specialized tariff provisions including tariff-rate quotas and seasonal duties, and duty rates among the highest in the HTSUS – some exceeding 40 percent. Classification Challenges Preparation level matters (fresh vs. dried vs. canned). Ingredient composition drives classification for prepared foods. Sugar and dairy…
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The Price on the Invoice Is Not the Cost By the time goods reach your warehouse, additional costs have been added: freight, insurance, customs duties, processing fees, broker fees, inland transportation, and more. Many importers either do not calculate landed cost or calculate it incorrectly. Components of Landed Cost Product cost (varies by Incoterms), international…
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A Cash Flow Tool Most Importers Overlook A bonded warehouse allows imported goods to be stored without duty payment for up to five years. Duties are only owed upon withdrawal for domestic consumption. If goods are exported, no duties are owed at all. How Bonded Warehouses Work Several classes exist for different activities. When goods…
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The Ecommerce Import Boom and Its Compliance Gap Ecommerce importers are subject to the same customs laws as any other importer, but many are unaware of these obligations. CBP has identified ecommerce imports as a priority enforcement area. Customs Compliance Basics You need an importer of record number. Every product must be classified under the…
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The Hidden Tariff That Can Reach Triple Digits Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are calculated individually for each foreign producer and can range from single digits to several hundred percent. The retrospective nature means liability can change years after importation. How AD/CVD Duties Work The Department of Commerce determines dumping/subsidization and calculates rates. The ITC determines…
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Relief Is Available, But You Have to Ask Tariff exemptions, exclusions, and suspensions can eliminate additional tariff burdens entirely. They require applications prepared carefully, documented thoroughly, and filed within specific deadlines. Types of Tariff Exemptions Section 301 exclusions (USTR), Section 232 exclusions (BIS), Miscellaneous Tariff Bill provisions, and Generalized System of Preferences. Preparing a Strong…
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Valuation Is the Foundation of Your Duty Calculation If classification determines the percentage rate, valuation determines the dollar amount to which that percentage is applied. Valuation errors affect every product at every duty rate and can be equally or more significant than classification errors. Understanding the Transaction Value Method The transaction value is the price…
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A Powerful Tool Hiding in Plain Sight Foreign Trade Zones are designated areas where imported goods can be stored, assembled, manufactured, or processed without formal customs entry or duty payment until the goods enter U.S. commerce. Over 190 general-purpose zones exist, yet many importers have never evaluated whether FTZ operations could benefit their business. How…
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The Most Important Name on the Customs Entry Every customs entry must identify an importer of record (IOR): the entity legally responsible for ensuring accuracy, paying duties, and meeting all regulatory requirements. Being the IOR is the assumption of significant legal and financial obligations. What the IOR Is Responsible For Accuracy of entry data, paying…