Question: What are the best KPI’s that importer’s ask their customs broker to give them on a monthly basis? Answer 1: We receive report from broker with these KPI’s Broker File # Business Sub Business Formal Entry No Ship Via Carrier HB SCAC # Clearance Branch Origin MID Code Destination Importer IRS # Master Bill […]
Question: Question for fellow importers. Are there any specific reports in the ACE portal which you use to measure compliance performance? I do use the late ISF report and progress reports. Are there other compliance performance reports used to ensure compliance is being met through ACE or other measurable means? Answer 1: ACE is a […]
Question: I am interested in working with an FTZ facility that requires STA background requirements. What are those requirements for screening? Asked by: Sandy Saget – s.saget@crownstaffing.com Answer 1: A Security Threat Assessment (STA) background check is administered by TSA. A copy of the application is available here https://iac.tsa.dhs.gov/iac/staApplication.pdf?forward=Paper+STA
QUESTION: What kind of KPIs/Metrics does everyone use for their internal processes? ************** Answers: It depends on your operations. Here are some examples: New product HTS/PGA coding prior to po issuance (3 day turn-around) Entry clearance filed before arrival/ accuracy (Expected 95%) Technical Skills 50% / Record Mgmt & Billing 25% / Service Request 25% […]
QUESTION: Our company, as I am sure many others do, has a tariff database that we use in order to determine classification for imported and exported items. Are there any good KPI metrics that we can pull from that data to show to our leadership? Some that I have already considered are, “We import x% […]
OT Fact Sheet: Origin Certification Requirements QUESTION: Does anyone have a good template that demonstrates cost savings vs. resource cost to demonstrate Trade Compliance metrics? These templates would be shared with the Management team in order to demonstrate the cost for resource support needed in order to deliver on cost savings initiatives (FTA, internal HS […]
QUESTION: Does anyone have a basic Trade Compliance Manual template they can share? No SPIs, no duty drawback, no FTAs. How many sections? What level of detail should it get into? How many pages should this be? ========== Answers: My suggestion is you download and work thru the Export Compliance Program (ECP) offered by BIS. […]
QUESTION: If a company does not have an import-export (trade compliance) manuals what are the consequences with CBP and BIS? Are there penalties? Do I need to emphasize with management the need and/or requirement for these documents? Are corporate manuals and SOPs with brokers and freight forwarders mandatory? ************** Answers:No, they are not “mandatory”, and […]
QUESTION: Has anyone created a classification guide/catalog for their company that groups products under certain HTS codes? More than just following up with GRI’s or rulings for each part number, a tool that can enable new products that fall under a certain category to be classified together. Also if you have a recordkeeping process when […]
QUESTION: While conducting an audit I found that another division used the incorrect tariff code for an entry. If I ask their broker to submit a PSC, is that customs business? This division only has 2-3 imports per year so they will not know how to prepare the explanation of why the tariff code is […]
QUESTION: My company didn’t know where to place my new role so I’m part of Procurement. This dept. is meeting every 2 weeks to talk about our roles and how much savings we bring to the company. I’ve never had to deal with this as my role hasn’t always produced savings other than looking at […]
QUESTION: Our company just created a Trade compliance department. On the import side of things, what would be the 5 main import items/subjects you would focus on so that the multiple divisions we deal with start understanding the risks in importing? ISF, HTS..? We are looking for your feedback %%%%%%%%%% ANSWERS: I suggest following Customs […]
