Registration for the April 23, 2025 Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE) opened on February 10th. The exam is notoriously difficult to pass so, if you plan to sit for it, don’t procrastinate. You have a little more than 60 days to prepare and you will need them all.

The CBLE pass rates were 24% in October 2024, 13% in May 2024, and 34% in October 2023. In previous years the rates were typically less than 15%.

For comparison purposes, the pass rate for the 2023 bar exam in the US was about 58%. Most law students take the exam shortly after completing three years of law school, however, while CBLE candidates may have been out of school for some time.

CPA- Certified Public Accountant and CFA- Chartered Financial Analyst exam pass rates vary by section but are usually around 50-60%.

Reach out to the Customs Broker Exam Assistance Group on LinkedIn for support and study tips.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12862151

Registration opens tomorrow Feb 10th.

The next CBLE will be administered April 23, 2025. Registration for this examination will open on February 10, 2025 and will close at 4:30 pm (Eastern time) on March 12, 2025. See the “How do I register?” tab for a link to the exam registration portal. 

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

I often hear from frustrated exporters about shipments “stuck” in customs. The shipments may include critical parts needed for an equipment or plant shutdown, expensive high tech components not generally carried in inventory, or medical instruments for hospitals. Delayed orders also mean delayed payments, which gets everyone’s attention. Most exporters rely on their freight forwarders to review the documentation of their shipments. However, details can be easily overlooked, so here are a few best practices for exporters to check before tendering shipments to forwarders.

The data used in customs entries comes primarily from the commercial invoice for the transaction. All countries have different, and sometimes obscure, customs regulations. It is true, however, that most delays are caused by a few commercial invoice errors or omissions.

Commodity descriptions should answer the questions: What is it? What is it made of? What is it used for? Use plain language which can be understood by anyone. Avoid trade names, brand names, or part numbers in the description. These can be added below the description or to the packing list if needed. If using a harmonized code consider entering only the first 6 digits, which are universal. All countries apply their own last 4 or 6 digits.

Value for customs may appear to be questionable for the commodity being shipped. The customs agencies in the destination country need to make sure that duty rates are accurate and will hold up the shipment if in doubt. Make sure that your commercial invoice reflects the correct transaction value and that you can clearly justify the valuation method.

Importer of record (IOR) contact info is often lacking on the commercial invoice. Customs in the importing country will not contact the exporter if they have questions or issues. If they are unable to contact the IOR the shipment will go into storage. Make sure you include recipient name, address, phone number, and e mail address on your CI as well as complete customs broker contact info.

Contact mitch@adhoclogistics.com  for immediate assistance.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7288219269287362564?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28ugcPost%3A7288219269287362564%2C7289291731781468160%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287289291731781468160%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7288219269287362564%29

As all logistics professionals know, problem solving is a big part of the job. My clients are mostly small or medium sized firms working with minimal staffs, so I frequently assist them in resolving service issues. I have shared my thoughts about customer service in previous posts. AI is adding a new way of interacting with supply chain partners and can be an efficient way to transmit info. Information is plentiful and, for me, transmitting info is not the issue. Ultimately, clients of LSPs need someone to take responsibility and actually solve the problem without passing the buck.

We engage with a variety of providers including freight forwarders, carriers, integrators, and customs brokers. Most have automated systems for efficiency and cost control purposes. When looking for a status update or answer to a simple question these systems are fine. Self service can be frustrating, though, when the problem is not easily described, and is of no use for more complex issues. Information is easier to get than action.

The ability/authority to solve problems is what defines great customer service. Reaching a human being in customer service requires patience and many times that person is simply reading from a script. If I haven’t been able to solve the problem on-line then I need someone with the ability and authority to resolve the issue.

LSPs, don’t force your clients to dump problems on their account rep or e mail the CEO. A few key people in customer service roles with the authority to fix problems on the spot will earn you a lot of customer loyalty.

Agree?

The next CBLE will be administered April 23, 2025. Registration for this examination will open on February 10, 2025 and will close at 4:30 pm (Eastern time) on March 12, 2025. See the “How do I register?” tab for a link to the exam registration portal. 

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

I often hear from people who are thinking about sitting for the CBLE (Customs Broker License Exam) or those who are simply curious about the profession. Here is some info from the CBP website and 19 CFR 111.1

Customs broker. Customs brokers are private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assist importers and exporters in meeting Federal requirements governing imports and exports. Brokers submit necessary information and appropriate payments to CBP on behalf of their clients and charge them a fee for this service.

Brokers must have expertise in the entry procedures, admissibility requirements, classification, valuation, and the rates of duty and applicable taxes and fees for imported merchandise.

There are approximately 14,454 active licensed Customs brokers in the United States.

Customs business. “Customs business” means those activities involving transactions with CBP concerning the entry and admissibility of merchandise, its classification and valuation, the payment of duties, taxes, or other charges assessed or collected by CBP on merchandise by reason of its importation, and the refund, rebate, or drawback of those duties, taxes, or other charges. “Customs business” also includes the preparation, and activities relating to the preparation, of documents in any format and the electronic transmission of documents and parts of documents intended to be filed with CBP in furtherance of any other customs business activity, whether or not signed or filed by the preparer. However, “customs business” does not include the mere electronic transmission of data received for transmission to CBP and does not include a corporate compliance activity.

Here is a link for more info about eligibility and the application process:

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/becoming-customs-broker

The HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) and Schedule B have been updated for 2025. Both publications show multiple pages of code changes. Due diligence in checking your codes at least annually is a best practice for importers and exporters. Make sure that you are not using obsolete codes to avoid customs delays and possible penalties.

Here are the HTS and Schedule B links. You can check individual codes or review the change records.

https://hts.usitc.gov

https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/index.html

As a reminder HTS codes can be used for AES filing, with some exceptions, per the following:

NOTICE TO EXPORTERS

For reporting electronic export information in the Automated Export System (AES), the statistical reporting numbers in the HTS (with their respective descriptions and units of quantity) for articles falling in chapters 1 through 97 may be used in place of those in the Schedule B, except as noted below.

Contact mitch@adhoclogistics.com for assistance.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidmarknoah_2025-trade-compliance-checklist-for-exporters-activity-7280313082143297536-QBz8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7264985331299500032/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(activity%3A7264985331299500032%2C7278397295815999488)&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A(7278397295815999488%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7264985331299500032)