Customs Bonds

For non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs), compliance with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of doing business legally and avoiding steep penalties. During our recent webinar, Avoid Costly FMC Penalties, industry expert Mauricio Larenas of AP Tariffs reminded participants that compliance begins with a simple but critical question: does your business qualify as an NVOCC? Who Qualifies as an NVOCC? According to the FMC, any company that offers ocean shipping services is considered an NVOCC. That definition is broad—so broad that even a small storefront advertising “Ship to Colombia for $50” or a Facebook post offering to move […]

By: Dennis Gates, Regional Vice President Northeast Region The announcement of potential tariffs has sparked concern across industries. In November 2024, the U.S. President-elect proposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. This move could significantly disrupt trade, particularly for goods previously duty-free under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). For importers and their customhouse brokers, these tariffs could bring significant financial and logistical challenges. Understanding the Potential Impact These proposed tariffs may affect a wide array of goods, from raw materials to finished products. Importers need to understand how these changes could increase costs, strain supply chains, and lead […]

By Matt Zehner, VP, Surety Information & Analysis, Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. Recently, my colleague Colleen introduced Tariffs and Bond Stacking Liability and the need for importers to monitor bond sufficiency on a regular basis, with the goal to avoid a short-notice demand from CBP to terminate and file a larger bond.  One significant reason to planning the timing of when to make use of a larger continuous bond is that by reducing the number of times the bond amount changes over time, the bond principal is able to minimize the accumulation of bond liability.  There are ancillary benefits to importers when […]

By: Lenny Feldman, Managing Partner at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. With the government’s continued emphasis on enforcement, it has become mission-critical for parties engaged in international trade to set their strategic offensive in place through programs such as “regulatory defense. “The administration continues to issue executive actions and regulations that increase trade enforcement by stepping up the collection of section 301, 232, and 201 tariffs as well as antidumping and countervailing duties and the prosecution of trade and customs laws violations, particularly in the de minimis space. Additionally, federal agencies have issued regulations and decisions underscoring the need for […]

As the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) prepares for the upcoming CARM Release 3 (R3) on October 21, 2024, two important notices have been issued to guide businesses through this transition. These notices outline key measures and processes impacting trade operations and compliance. Customs Notice 24-27- Transition Measures for CARM R3 Customs Notice 24-27 details the transition measures that will be implemented with CARM R3. These measures are designed to ensure continued border fluidity and the timely submission of accounting information and payment of duties and taxes. Importers should take note of the Release to Prior Payment (RPP) financial security […]

Written by Colleen Clarke, SVP, Surety Trade Relations and Business Development Driven by the onset of the trade remedy tariffs in Spring 2018, duties owed on imported goods more than doubled and continue to grow, especially due to by additional duties on goods imported from China. A Surge in Duties, Taxes, and Fees According to Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trade Statistics, the total amount of duties, taxes and fees collected in FY 2023 was $92.3 billion.  This was a 17.46% decrease from FY 2022, however the amount of duties, taxes and fees increased over 220% compared to FY 2018.  […]