In managing the international supply chain, your shipments will have to go through the US Customs and Border Protection Service (CBP). Customs clearance is an inevitable process, but it should not be overwhelming or confusing. Below is the US customs clearance process for shipping, including: Customs procedures for shipments to the U.S. Four documents to be provided to US customs Common customs examinations
To understand your supply chain, you need to understand the US customs clearance process. But the U.S. navigation process Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may vary in shipping. The way you manage your supply chain and the goods you ship, for example, could change the process.
The sender or consignee will upload the packing list and the commercial invoice The customs brokerage partner will confirm the details that correspond to the shipping details The customs brokerage partner will review the HTS classification of the products The Customs Brokerage Partner will submit the Summary of Entry (7501) and CBP will release or withhold the exam proceeding to US customs clearance form. The customs brokerage partner will send you the due fees.
The consignment note is a document that reveals the details associated with this shipment to the customs officer. US customs clearance procedure may include: Master Bill of Lading (MBL) House Knowledge (HBL) Automatic Manifestation System (AMS) Recipient (CNEE) Sender Cargo location Internal transport number (IT #)
A customs clearance document, the kind of contract between shipper and a forwarder of transportation. It is issued by a freight forwarder to its customer (you, the shipper). HBL usually acknowledges that the shipper has received the goods, what transit service will be provided by the shipper, the route and the goods that have been delivered.
Your packing list should be as detailed as possible. Ideally, it labels the type of goods that are imported at a SKU level, with information including number of units, weight, CBM and any additional packaging details.
Your commercial invoice is a detailed document indicating the cost of the goods, which will be reflected in the amount of taxes paid to CBP.
If your consignment contains, inter alia, tobacco, alcohol or wildlife products, you must contact the appropriate agency before arriving at the port of entry. The following are some of the agencies that regulate the import or issue permits, licenses, or certificates to import products into the United States, such as: vegetables, plants and their articles, animals and products, meat and articles, birds and products, wood packaging material - US Department of Agriculture firearms and ammunition, explosives, alcoholic beverages - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Trademark Articles, Artifacts, and Cultural Property - U.S. Customs and Border Protection medicines, narcotics and certain medicines, biological materials, milk, dairy products and cheeses, fruits and nuts - US Food and Drug Administration household appliances, commercial and industrial equipment, oil and petroleum products - US Department of Energy fish and wildlife, hunting trophies (furs, skins, shells), pets - US Fish and Wildlife Service radioactive materials and nuclear reactors - Nuclear Regulatory Commission Toys and Other Consumer Products - US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Imported goods that are shipped internationally will often be selected for examination before arriving in port. Your imported goods may even be subject to multiple reviews at once, depending on the CBP team associated with your team. Here are some common US customs clearance exams to prepare shippers:
The vacis exam is the vehicle and cargo inspection system and is one of the most common types of CBP exams. It can also be known as an X-ray exam. During an empty examination, the entire container undergoes an x-ray to check the goods in the container. The exam is used to scan for smuggling, such as drugs, weapons and currency. Vacis exams can be used for shipping containers as well as for air containers, commercial trucks and tanks.
An examination at the tail gate involves CBP opening the back of the container - or the end of the tail - and conducting a visual inspection of some of the imported goods. It is usually regarded as level up from a vacis exam. **Partial examination** In a midterm exam, CBP will select a few boxes at random and inspect the goods.
Intensive exams are the biggest exams and usually take the longest. CBP officers will request that certain goods be moved to a CBP approved warehouse. At the warehouse, CBP officers inspect all your products to ensure compliance with all shipping rules and regulations. Intensive exams usually last at least another seven days.
There are two types of intensive exams
CET - CET (Contraband Enforcement Team): An intensive test to protect the United States from narcotics, drugs, and weapons.
Intensive MET Exam - MET (Manifest Examination Team): An intensive exam for reviewing and verifying the importer's documents. This examination shall ensure that the documents of the importer are aligned with the imported goods without prejudice to duties or copyrights.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Exam. The USDA exam is when any type of food or wood product is usually suspended. This restraint is to ensure that whatever the importer brings does not contain diseases, pests or other insect infestations. The USDA will often take samples to bring back to the lab for testing.
The FDA's review seeks to ensure that imported foods and medications comply with US guidelines and are safe for consumers. The FDA will often take samples to bring back to the lab for testing.
Customs duties can be found in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule, HTS for short. Tax rates can be assessed as follows: ad valorem - a percentage of the value of the goods specific - a specified quantity per unit weight / other quantity compound rates - a combination of a specific rate and an ad valorem rate On average, the US customs tariff is 3.4%, one of the lowest in the world. Rates depend on the origin of the product.
For example, in some cases, there are so-called Chinese added tariffs ("Section 301"), which are higher than the general rate. The higher rate also applies if the products originate in North Korea or Cuba. Take, for example, the tax rate for blue denim for men and boys (code 6203.32.20). The general tax rate is 9.4%. The 0% excise duty rate applies to products from Colombia, Panama, Australia and many other countries.
The tax rate for North Korea and Cuba is much higher - 90%. In this case, Chinese products have an additional duty of 7.5% compared to the general rate. Higher tariffs are imposed on products such as sugar and confectionery, dairy products, clothing, beverages and tobacco. There are also excise duties on tobacco and alcohol. For example, the cigarette tax is levied by both the federal and state governments. The federal government charges a $ 1.01 excise duty on a standard package when the state tax ranges from $ 0.17 in Missouri to $ 4.98 per package in Washington, DC. Rates are charged if the lot is valued at over $ 200. If the shipment is from Canada, then the customs threshold is $ 2,000.