Introduction International trade has been a bit slow of late due to the COVID-19 hangover and the Russia-Ukraine war. It has been fraught with challenges, necessitating the need to look for a way to overcome trade hindrances posed by a variety of logistics, regulatory, and market-based aspects. With that said, according to the World Trade Organization, it is estimated that global trade will grow slowly at a rough rate of
Introduction All international shipments are subject to a duty on exports and imports. Shippers and traders usually have Customs Specialists working tirelessly to ensure smooth Customs Clearance. Some shippers choose to deploy software-based solutions to ensure Customs Compliance. Regardless of the method adopted, the Customs Clearance processes at a company should run smoothly to ensure hindrance-free trade and to maintain the good health of the supply chain. Through this blog,
What is the FDA Prior Notice? To fulfill the provisions of the Bioterrorism Act, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final regulation that requires advance notice to be given for all incoming shipments of imported food into the United States. Since May 6, 2009, the FDA has required food importers in the United States to submit a Prior Notice of any imports of human food and animal food
Entry Type 86 is a voluntary test that is usually filed by a customs broker appointed by the owner, purchaser, or consignee. To qualify for Entry Type 86, the merchandise brought into the United States must have an aggregate retail value of $800 or less in the country of origin. Power of Attorney and Brokers The customs broker must have the power of attorney (POA) as a filer of Entry
Background to Entry Type 86 In 2019, CBP operationalized the Entry Type 86 Test. This is a voluntary test that makes it possible for self-filers and customs brokers to submit de minimis value entries through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI). It is important to note that these will usually include goods that are subject to data requirements from Partner Government Agencies (PGA). This means that such goods can then be
Importing cosmetics into the United States using entry type 86 can be very lucrative even though the process can have many pitfalls. One of the biggest challenges that importers face is that many countries define cosmetics and drugs differently from the United States. For instance, in some countries, sunscreens are deemed cosmetics and are under cosmetics regulations while they are regulated as drugs in the United States. Given that cosmetics
According to the Customs Border Protection Agency (CBP), a Type 86 Entry is permitted when there is one shipment per day per person with a total value not exceeding $800 in the exporting country. This means that American shoppers can go online, pay for items, and receive them directly from an overseas facility and not have to be subject to traditional entry procedures. In essence, if an importer wants to
James has 20 years of experience in the Customs & Trade domain. He is currently the President of CustomsCity Global Solutions Inc., a SaaS provider of Customs Connectivity solutions in North America for airlines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, highway carriers, and warehouse operators. These solutions play a critical role in the movement of freight across borders. James consults on the implementation of trade and business solutions for both the public
The volume of air & ocean container traffic has been on the rise over the past ten years and this has resulted in increased competition among shippers resulting in declining profits. The biggest problem for most logistics providers has to do with the congestion between the container terminal yard or the airline and the gate. Some of the reasons for the congestion between the yard and the gate include changes
What is the Chinese New Year? The Chinese New Year refers to the beginning of a New Year in China following the lunar calendar. The New Year usually begins on the second moon following the winter solstice and ends about fifteen days later when the full moon appears. Unlike the Western New Year, the Chinese New Year does not have a fixed date and usually takes place anywhere between January