 Going
Internet Shopping? Beware US Customs Laws
Just in time for the
holiday season, the following advice comes directly from US CBP:
The Internet has made
it easy to find and purchase items from almost anywhere in the world.
However, many people are discovering that getting a foreign-bought
item successfully delivered to the United States is much more
complicated.
When goods move from
any foreign country to the United States, they are being IMPORTED.
There are specific rules and regulations that govern the act of
importing - and they can be extremely complex and confusing - and
costly.
That artisan cheese
from Italy may be a snap to find and buy on the Internet, but U.S.
Customs and Border Protection could seize your purchase because
certain regulations prohibit the importation of dairy products from
particular countries without a permit.
Your great auction
purchase of gorgeous linen products? Depending upon the country of
origin, quota restrictions could hold them up in CBP for a long time.
And storage charges in such cases can be expensive.
In other words,
"Buyer, Beware." When you buy goods from foreign sources, you become
the importer. And it is the importer - in this case, YOU - who is
responsible for assuring that the goods comply with a variety of both
state and federal government import regulations. Importing goods that
are unsafe, that fail to meet health code requirements, or that
violate quota restrictions could end up costing you quite a bit of
money in fines and penalties. At the very least, such goods would be
detained, and possibly destroyed, by CBP.
Knowing what is
admissible is just part of the story. The other part is knowing how to
import. Depending upon what you are importing and its value, the
procedures can be very complicated.
It does not matter whether you bought the item from an established
business or from an individual selling items in an on-line auction. If
merchandise, used or new, is imported into the United States, it must
clear CBP and may be subject to the payment of duty as well as to
whatever rules and regulations govern the importation of that
particular product into the United States.
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These courses can
be taken without being in the Global Business Program. They can be
found on their website WCTC.EDU under Areas of Study. WCTC is also
providing a review class to take the exam for Certified Global
Business Professional, offered by Nasbite. This class is a non
credit offered Jan 8,9,10 and 11, 2007, from 6pm to 9pm. Only
$30.10. The classes are: Global Business Fundamentals, Course
Registration Number(CRN) 20579, Monday, 01/15/07 to 05/14/07, from
1.30pm to 4.25pm. 3crs, tuition $280.60
International
Marketing, CRN 20581, Monday, 01/15/07 to 05/14/07, from 5.30pm to
8.25pm. 3crs, tuition $280.60
Global Supply
Chain Procurement (Acclerated), CRN 20582, Thursday, 01/11/07 to
2/15/07, from 5.30pm to 9.25pm. 3 crs, tuition $280.60
Global Supply
Chain Logistics (Acclerated), CRN 20590, Thursday, 03/01/07 to
04/05/07, from 5.30pm to 9.25pm. 3crs, tuition $280.60
Global Financial
Transactions, CRN 21187,Wednesday, 01/17/07 to 05/09/07, from
5.30pm to 8.25pm. 3crs, tuition $280.60
International
Business Transactions, CRN 20588, Tuesday, 01/16/07 to 05/08/07,
from 5.30pm to 8.25pm. 3crs, tuition $280.60
For course
descriptions go to the college website
http://www.wctc.edu or call 262 691 5551
For
information about the Global business specialist program go
to:
http://www.wctc.edu/web/areas/business/gen/global/global.php |
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T r a n s p o
r t a t i o n / S h i p p i n g |
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Shippers moving cargo from air to ocean transport
Shippers and
consignees are cutting back on the use of air freight and other
premium services in favour of less costly transportation options.
Increasingly this is spreading to commodities that have
traditionally moved exclusively by air, such as cellular phones.
more...
Asia moving closer to "Iron Silk Road" railway network
BUSAN, South Korea - Asian nations were moving a step closer to
realizing a decades-old dream -- integrating the continent into a
single railway network.
more...
DOT boss: Mexican trucks will
get here … eventually
GRAPEVINE, Texas
(Oct. 31, 2006) — The Bush administration still expects to open
American highways to trucks from Mexico, but only when that
country’s commercial equipment and operators meet U.S.
requirements, a top official said here today at the American
Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition.
more... |
Huge month says volumes about changes at L.A. port
The
facility, under new management and intent on luring back business,
moves a record amount of cargo, keeping ahead of its Long Beach
rival.
more...
Maersk seeks to raise shipping
rates to U.S.
Maersk
says it will pursue a general rate increase of at least $300 per
40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) to US West Coast ports and a hike of
$500 to US East Coast ports. Earlier in November Maersk said it
was raising Europe to US rates up by $300 per container effective
1 January. Maersk said increases will be even greater for cargo
continuing to inland destinations, in order to offset the dramatic
cost increases of providing inland service.
HAPAG-LLOYD
hiking
Trans-Atlantic rates
Hapag-Lloyd is joining Maersk and MSC in raising rates in the
North Europe-to-North America trade. From 1 February rates will
rise $200 per TEU and $250 per FEU. |
Click here for the 2007
Proposed Modifications
to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
|
W T O /
T r a d e P a c t s |
China pulls ahead of Canada in exports to US
16
Nov 2006, CSCB
China is surpassing
Canada as the United States' biggest supplier of imports, figures
show. The emerging industrial powerhouse has been the United States'
biggest supplier for three months running and could soon fully
supplant Canada, said Douglas Porter, deputy-chief economist at BMO
Nesbitt Burns.
more...
CBP
textile teams to visit Hong Kong factories
Teams of U.S. Customs
officers will visit factories in Hong Kong beginning Dec. 2 to verify
that suppliers are complying with laws regarding the importation of
apparel and textiles, Hong Kong's Customs and Excise department said.
more...
U.S.
Customs program to aid Asia trade development
The U.S. Trade and
Development Agency is rolling out a customs training program aimed at
promoting trade with developing countries in Asia.
more...
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i d y o u k n o w t h a t . .
. ? |
The average chance
that your container is designated for a customs exam is one out of
twenty.
If
you declare less than the total value of goods for insurance, that you
will not be paid for your full loss,
no matter how small that loss is?
It’s called the “Co-Insurance Clause,” and has led to many a
problem for Shippers,
Forwarders and Insurance people.
more…
If a port
terminal releases a flagged container by mistake, the fine will be a
minimum of $10,000 (no longer dropped to $2,500) and could run as high
as $25,000 for the first offense. If the goods move on your Bill Of
Lading, you could be named in any actions or lawsuits.
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Thailand HOLIDAY NOTICE
DECEMBER 05, 2006 -- H.M. THE KING'S BIRTHDAY
DECEMBER 09, 2006 -- LEO HOLIDAY
DECEMBER 11, 2006 -- SUBSTITUTION CONSTITUTION DAY
DECEMBER 30, 2006 - 02 JAN 2007 -- NEW YEAR'S EVE |
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