Important CARM Update for Customs Brokers and Importers

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.  […]

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 […]

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 […]