TradeLane

The pace of change and increasing complexity in international trade has continued to gather speed and momentum as we get further into 2023 and shows little signs of abating. While, in some cases, the volume of goods crossing borders has stabilized, the regulatory intricacies of maintaining a resilient supply chain have grown exponentially for both customers and service providers.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully transmitted a Duty Drawback claim to U.S. Customs and Border Protection! Whether this is your first claim or just one of many, an accepted claim feels like an accomplishment, especially given the complexity of the Modernized Drawback regulations. At this point, many traders may believe their part is over and it’s time to sit back and collect the refund, right? Well, maybe not. Picture this… while (patiently) waiting for your refund, you receive a CBP Request for Information, also known as a CF28, and a notification letter from a CBP Drawback Specialist that your claim requires additional information to be processed, in the form of a Full Desk Review (FDR) - three words that strike fear into even the most seasoned trade professional. Now what?

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has proposed amendments to the method of assessing value for duty of imported goods. This would essentially change the Valuation for Duty Regulations. Depending on the importer’s business model, this could significantly impact duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) payout.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring that all food, drugs, and medical devices imported into the United States meet the country's safety and quality standards. However, there are times when FDA import clearance delays occur, causing frustration for importers. Some of the most common reasons for delay include:

Why is it that chemicals and pharmaceutical items are often classified incorrectly? The answer has more to do with the nature of pharmaceutical trade than the complexity of the tariff (though it is complex). In an industry with its fair share of non-commercial product movements for testing, diagnosis, analysis, and new product development, that ‘newness’ and the speed at which product moves can make compliance determination challenging. However, meeting reasonable care standards makes attention to and investment in an accurate classification process critical. Here are some tips on how to get it right.