Compliance Services

The obligations to exercise “reasonable care” in the entry of merchandise and to adopt procedures that reflect “informed compliance” were imposed on importers and exporters by the Customs Modernization Act of 1993. Charter makes its substantial experience and expertise available to ensure its clients comply with the ever-growing and increasingly complex rules and regulations that govern the international trade and customs processes.

Our team of customs and international trade attorneys, licensed brokers and experienced staff assist our clients in understanding their customs and export obligations and in adopting and implementing policies and programs that ensure compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. In this way, Charter is able to minimize the need for other trade consultants and attorneys, resulting in the most cost-effective service offering over the long term.

All merchandise imported into the United States is subject to the customs laws related to entry and duty assessment, as set forth in the Tariff Act (19 U.S.C. § 1202 et seq.). The two-part entry process consists of the filing of information and documentation (1) to secure release of the goods from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and (2) to enable CBP to assess duties, collect accurate statistics and determine whether all requirements of law are met. The law requires that importers exercise “reasonable care” in the entry of merchandise (19 U.S.C. § 1484), and it imposes penalties for failure to comply (19 U.S.C. § 1592).  In addition, importers must maintain records to support their customs activities (19 U.S.C. § 1508).

Some of the key focus compliance areas include:
• Classification
• Valuation
• Quantity
• Merchandise
• Special Trade Programs and Trade Agreements
• Recordkeeping
• Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) and Quotas

To contact us regarding these services please click here.