Customs Bonds

CARM Release 2 Important Update for Customs Brokers and Importers On August 11, 2023, CBSA’s CARM Engagement team released an important update on the next phase of the CARM project launch. Per their email to trade and logistics partners: “In October 2023, the CARM Release 2 system will be available for selected industry partners who want to test their own internal systems, and for software service providers to continue to certify their software with CARM. The proposed regulatory amendments continue on schedule with a planned coming-into-force date of May 2024, when CARM becomes the official system of record. Further enhancements are […]

Many Customs and trade laws carry significant financial consequences for importers, and of these laws, antidumping and countervailing duties pose some of the most dangerous ramifications. These provisions exist to protect domestic industries and producers from unfair foreign competition. Under U.S. law, goods are subject to assessment of “ordinary duties” based on their classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. However, U.S. law also defines certain situations in which goods are being sold to the U.S. at prices below cost of production or below “fair market value”. This is referred to as “dumping”. Like ADD, CVD is […]

An import bond is more than a simple commodity. Choosing the right customs surety bond provider can add stability and certainty to your business as well as the flow of your import clients’ goods. Properly vetting your customs bond provider and the surety company they represent will help you deliver on your client’s service expectations. Here are some  essential characteristics to consider  when making this critical decision. 1. Longevity, Experience, and Service A good starting point in the vetting process is to look for a partner that demonstrates staying power in the industry and aligns with your company’s standards and […]

Resources to Help Brokers Battle the Trade War While it’s no longer front page news fodder the tariff-centered trade wars continue. Change – if not outright volatility – continues to be an understatement as it relates to tariffs on goods imported to into the United States these days. Unfortunately businesses who have import activities and the customs brokers who assist them are caught in the middle, and they can become casualties of the ongoing trade wars. While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is publishing plenty of resources, the dedicated people on the Customs Bond team at Roanoke are here […]

  eBond is the fastest customs bond filing system ever, and it’s about to be even faster and easier. The Road to eBond Customs bonds used to be issued on typewriters. Across the country entry writers for customs brokers would hammer out importer information onto green, pink, and yellow sheets of carbon paper, and these paper pages were delivered by messenger or mail to the CBP office at the local port. There the bonds waited for their Customs Control Number stamp and delivery back to the broker or agent. Then in the 2000’s, the bond filing process went digital. Processing […]

Over the past several days, many of our customers may have experienced difficulties processing eBonds when using the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. Our service representatives strive to keep you up-to-date on these issues so we then can convey this information to you. However, the fastest way to receive this information is directly from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via their Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS). CSMS is one of CBP’s methods of communicating to their trade partners news and updates on automated systems such as ACE. The registration process is quick and easy. Simply enter your email address and […]