What exactly does a freight forwarder do… and do I need one?
Importing and exporting are key activities for many businesses. But the process, paperwork, and regulations involved in international trade can be very complex – intimidating, even. Many successful international shippers avoid getting bogged down in these logistics by working with a freight forwarder.
Classifying goods for trade – What’s the deal?
Proper tariff classification is the foundation of import and export trade compliance. The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (usually shortened to Harmonized System, or just HS) is the internationally standardized system of classifying traded products. It is applied by over 180 countries and.
Customs audits and compliance
Customs verifications (a.k.a. audits) are serious matters, and their impact on a business can be significant. You never know if or when Customs will come calling, but you can conduct your business to be prepared to weather an audit with minimal disruption.
So, there’s NAFTA… But what other free trade agreements are out there?
*USMCA/CUSMA replaced NAFTA on July 1st, 2020. Read More... We all know about NAFTA… It’s undergoing its own renegotiation at this very moment, and the trade community needs to continue to keep an eye on what’s happening with NAFTA.
Scrap metal recycling – business opportunities await
Scrap metal recycling involves the recovery of metal scrap from the manufacturing industries and from metal products that have reached the end of their useful life. The scrap metal industry is an important and well-established one that offers both environmental benefits – diverting many tons of material from landfills.
Shipping and Freight Rates
Have you ever priced out the cost of shipping your goods and widely different quotes or received quotes that fluctuate from one week to the next. What’s going on?
What is causing shipping delays?
In the dynamic world of international trade, various challenges can disrupt the smooth flow of goods, from port congestion to extreme weather and geopolitical tensions. Each obstacle presents a potential delay in your shipments, costing time and money.
Understanding Customs Compliance
Customs compliance… It sounds important, doesn’t it? Well, it sure is! You’ve certainly heard of customs compliance, but do you fully understand what’s involved?
Importing Wood Packaging Material into the U.S.
The U.S. government regulates the import of all wood and wood-containing products into the U.S. And, because these items can carry and introduce harmful pests, their import is tightly monitored. Material made of wood that is used as packaging (such as crates, pallets, dunnage, etc.) is also subject to import.
