Importing/exporting into and out of the USA is difficult because
the potential consequences of activity in import/export trade
and the ability to mitigate problems is seriously diminished,
once the goods have left the care, custody and control of the
shipper.
Most American companies
lack the qualified personnel or resources needed to successfully
import and export.... Where both quality and timely services
have to be accomplished at a competitive price.
The Bureau of US Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS), is directing their attention to curtailing the neglect
and circumvention of its regulations that frequently result
from clerical errors, negligence and fraud. By creating stronger
standards of accountability, U.S. Customs has placed importers,
customs brokers and freight forwarders in great jeopardy of
disruptive investigations, severe monetary fines and forfeitures.
CBP had for years been in a
mode of “informed compliance”…. For the
past several years they are now in “enforced compliance”.
This attitude of Customs… needs to be addressed seriously,
responsibly and with great haste. Those that wait to comply…
will be in potential trouble… fines, penalties, closure,
etc.
The BIS has significantly beefed
up its activity in export compliance with a greater frequency
of fines and penalties for common practice errors, wrong documentation,
improper valuation, etc.
At American River International
we can review the current import/export procedures in place
at your facility and offer solutions to assuage any potential
problems due to these exposures.