There is no getting around it. U.S. Customs & Border Protection is firmly in enforcement mode.  Since 1993, the Customs Modernization Act has required that importers exercise reasonable care in making entries into the United States, and thanks to more recent legislative mandates, the number of issues encompassed by that responsibility continues to expand.

Besides ensuring that goods are correctly classified and valued, with the origin accurately identified and marked and any claimed preferences adequately justified with the necessary records, importers are now also expected to conduct sufficient due diligence to ensure that their imported goods are not evading or circumventing antidumping or countervailing duties (or Section 301 duties) and were not produced with forced labor.

Jacobs Global Trade has extensive experience advising businesses on customs compliance matters, including evaluating internal classification, valuation and origin determinations, along with eligibility for preferential duty treatment, before goods are entered and obtaining binding rulings to confirm those conclusions.  In the event of adverse entry determinations, the firm can ensure that a well-reasoned protest is prepared.

Jacobs Global Trade has assisted many companies in the evaluation, development, or enhancement of import compliance programs, conducting internal reviews and investigations of potentially non-compliant activity, recommending disclosures when appropriate, and devising remedial measures as warranted. Whether CBP issues requests for information (CF28s), notices of action (CF 29s), detains or seizes goods, or initiates quick response, single issue or formal audits, Jacobs Global Trade is prepared to assist clients in effectively responding and participating in these proceedings to achieve the best possible result.