With the recent imposition of additional 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, many companies are seeking ways to alleviate the financial burden of these extra duties. Some traditional duty-saving methods, such as duty drawback, are no longer viable due to these new tariffs. As a result, companies are exploring alternative strategies to maintain…
As the global trade landscape continues to evolve, U.S. trade policies remain a central focus, particularly in relation to steel and aluminum imports. On March 12, 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration is set to implement significant expansions to the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum—an action that promises to further shape the future of…
Tariffs, a tax on imports, have historically been used to support domestic industries and are primarily imposed for two reasons: to protect domestic industries by raising the cost of imported goods, and/or to generate revenue for the government. However, they can often also result in reduced trade, higher prices, and retaliation. What is a tariff?…
In all the years of my career, I don’t think I have seen so many articles or news stories on tariffs as I have since Donald Trump won the election in November. Everyone is trying to speculate on what he is going to do and if he will follow through with his promises on increasing…
Commercial hand carries are classified as imports or exports and therefore necessitate the same compliance reviews as items shipped in standard packaging. Does your organization engage in the hand-carrying of commercial items for import or export? If so, do you have a formal policy or procedure in place to ensure compliance with relevant regulations? In…
Regulatory Blast – Drinking from a Firehose! The recent regulatory landscape is ever changing. In fact, I am finding it hard to stay up to date – and I am what some may say “experienced”! The other day, I told a colleague that I had not had an easy question to answer that week! In…
Complying with export regulations can be hard! Knowing where to find the regulations, how to interpret them and apply them to your business in a constantly dynamic and changing environment is challenging to say the least; not to mention that regulations are not static. This means what was okay last week, may not be okay…
Spoiler Alert – Similar but Different As a U.S. importer or exporter, we are required to comply with specific regulations. For defense articles, we are regulated by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), for dual-use and commercial items, we must comply with the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and for importing into the U.S., we…
The game of deception is a bad guy’s favorite game. The lengths of trouble that these people will go to in order to violate the law is extraordinary. Whether it is firearms, drugs or even money, their skills at trying to deceive U.S. Customs or BIS is quite astounding. I have witnessed some of their…
The U.S. government’s recent decision to increase Section 301 tariffs on certain Chinese imports is a significant development in the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. While aimed at addressing long-standing trade issues, these tariffs also raise concerns for importers who rely on Chinese goods. Understanding Section 301 Tariffs Section 301 of…