Cargo Bridge Import Insights

Importers should prepare for a new reality: Customs compliance is becoming more data-driven. For years, some importers have relied too heavily on the idea that “if the cargo cleared, everything must be fine.” But that is not always true. A shipment can clear and still have weak paperwork, missing agency filings, wrong product descriptions, incomplete certificates, or regulatory issues that were not reviewed closely at the time of entry. As U.S. Customs and Border Protection modernizes its systems, and as government agencies continue moving more filing requirements into electronic systems, importers should expect one thing: Mistakes that used to be missed may become easier to find later. This does not mean every importer is doing something wrong. It means importers need better visibility into their own paperwork. Many products are not only reviewed by Customs. They may also involve Partner Government Agencies, often called PGAs. Examples include: 1. FDA for food, cosmetics, medical devi...

IEEPA tariff refunds have started moving through the system, and importers should pay attention. This does not mean every importer will receive money automatically. It also does not mean every entry is handled the same way. But it does mean importers should stop guessing and start reviewing their paperwork. For many companies, the most important first step is simple: Talk to the customs broker that filed the entry. Importers should ask: 1. Were IEEPA-related duties paid? 2. Which entries are eligible for review? 3. Has a CAPE declaration been submitted? 4. Is the company’s ACE information current? 5. Is bank/refund information properly set up? 6. Are any entries excluded, delayed, protested, or outside the current phase? 7. Who will receive the refund if one is issued? This is especially important for apparel importers and consumer goods importers who may have used overseas-controlled freight arrangements. If an importer does not know who filed the entry, who acted as importer of recor...

K-beauty products can move fast in the market, but importers should not move the freight before checking the paperwork. Cosmetics are not the same as ordinary general merchandise. Before booking air freight, LCL, or a container from Korea, importers should review the basic compliance and document flow first. A clean K-beauty import process should start with these questions: 1. What exactly is the product? 2. Is it a cosmetic, drug, or both? 3. Who is the manufacturer? 4. Does the manufacturer have an FDA Establishment Identifier, also called an FEI? 5. Has the facility completed FDA registration if required? 6. Has the product been listed with FDA if required? 7. Who is the responsible person on the label? 8. Are the ingredients documented? 9. Are the product claims safe for cosmetics? 10. Does the customs broker have the correct product description before entry? This matters because many K-beauty shipments look simple on the freight side. A few pallets of skincare, masks, cleanser, to...

When tariff refunds become available, many importers focus only on one question: “How much money can I get back?” But before that question, there is a more important one: “Who was the importer of record?” The importer of record is the party officially responsible for the customs entry. This matters because tariff refunds are tied to customs records, not just shipping invoices. If your company was the importer of record, your broker may be able to help review the entries and determine whether a refund process is available. If another company was listed as importer of record, the situation can become more complicated. This is one reason importers should be careful with unclear door-to-door shipping arrangements. A quote may look simple on the surface, but the paperwork underneath matters. Importers should ask: 1. Was my company listed as the importer of record? 2. Do I have copies of the customs entries? 3. Do I know which broker filed the entries? 4. Were IEEPA duties paid under my comp...