Countdown to Exam Day

If you are scheduled to sit for the CBLE (Customs Broker License Exam) on April 23rd your preparations have most likely included practice exams as well as a deep dive into the HTS tariff and customs regulations. Not to mention blood, sweat, and tears.

Let me suggest also reviewing the notifications on the CBP website so that you don’t have an unexpected complication on exam day. The notifications include details about Covid restrictions, reference materials allowed, and ID/Proof of Citizenship requirements. There are separate sections for remote and in-person test takers.

You will find the info under this link:

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/license-examination-notice-examination/cble-registration-information

Look for the heading It’s Exam Day !

Best of luck on April 23rd!

Who’s Responsible?

Most roadblocks to implementing an ECP (Export Compliance Program) are self-imposed. The project stalls while management procrastinates. The process certainly must start with management commitment. As has been reported, CBP and BIS are ramping up enforcement activities. Potential clients admit that they have allowed compliance to fall through the cracks or, after some initial steps, moved it to the “back burner”. The reasons for this are usually other priorities, cost, insufficient staffing, or belief that the business is too small.

One of my first questions for the client is “Who is responsible for compliance in the organization?” If they rely on their Customs Broker or LSP (Logistics Service Provider) I advise that these providers are good resources but that the client, as IOR (Importer of Record) or EOR (Exporter of Record), is legally liable for any violations.

Sometimes compliance has been assigned to the shipping department or to an administrative staffer. While I can help with best practices and training, this is a poor arrangement. Shipment screening must be a front end process starting with order entry. Shippers are under pressure to get orders out the door. Administrative staffers have multiple responsibilities and may lack specific knowledge.

In house compliance professionals are often given responsibility without authority. Further, they may be at mid or lower management levels, or in the wrong chain of command. With or without a formal ECP, compliance professionals must have the authority to place holds on questionable exports without being overruled by sales, finance, or supply chain. Well written protocols for resolving issues and releasing holds require C-level or legal approval.

All of the above illustrates the importance of compliance independence. This may mean reporting to the CEO, COO, or legal department in order to remove pressure from other groups.

So once again; “Who’s responsible?”

Contact mitch@adhoclogistics.com for immediate assistance.

Exporting Due Diligence

Customs delays in other countries are problematic for exporters, requiring a lot of time and effort to resolve. One of my recent posts considered 3 common causes of customs delays: vague or incomplete descriptions, questionable valuations, and lack of IOR contact info on commercial invoices. These items are easily fixed. The real complexity in international trade is due to the many different regulations applying to destination countries.

Best practices in exporting include due diligence and research when shipping to a country for the first time. The Country Commercial Guides published by the International Trade Administration are an excellent no cost starting point. Here is the link:

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides

Contact mitch@adhoclogistics.com for assistance.

LinkedIn Post and Comment

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mike-smiszek-5437231_the-us-customs-broker-license-exam-tips-activity-7302049943609823232-SrUg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGVD3UBu7RY4T4x68-aqSLyiBDvybv-4A0

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7302049943609823232?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7302049943609823232%2C7302057652304375808%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287302057652304375808%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7302049943609823232%29