Customized Cargo Care
A first page Google ranking or massive venture capital funding aren’t guarantees of compliance, experience, or reliable service.
It’s not just about the cargo carry.
It’s about the cargo care.
Understanding Customs Brokerage
Customs brokerage is the regulatory clearance of shipments and the delivery of goods across international borders for organizations and individuals. That’s the easy part.
Shapiro understands that the key to modern Customs brokerage is the creative application and integration of technology. We build data tables controlled by licensed Customs experts and use remote filing systems to electronically verify all data inputs and outputs.
Shapiro treats each shipment as though our business depends on it—because it does. Which is why we always go the extra mile for you and your cargo.
Our in-house Customs brokerage team is an extension of your business, and we do whatever it takes to help you succeed and achieve long term growth. Whether you’re a multinational conglomerate, an E-commerce online retailer, or a mid-size importer…
We Deliver. Problem Solved.™
Why Do I Need a Customs Broker?
Now that we’ve covered the easy part, the hard part is ensuring that your business and cargo enter a country in compliance with a perpetually dynamic line-up of rules, regulations, laws and preferential trade agreements from a formidable list of government departments, bureaus, and agencies.
Your company’s livelihood is at stake here, folks. If you do not comply with country-specific import requirements, you may face staggering fines and legal fees while jeopardizing your right to import.
Why work with us?
With over 100 years of experience as a Customs broker, Shapiro is primed to help you navigate the perils of intellectual property rights, remote document filing, FDA and PGA regulations, ISF penalties and product classifications, all while demonstrating reasonable care throughout your total business model.
When you partner with Shapiro, you’ll quickly see that we specialize in creating simplicity out of Customs complexity. If you don’t believe us yet, just keep reading…
Customs Clearance Services
Shapiro has created an internal operating structure (Shapiro Centers of Excellence or SCE) that mirrors CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE). This allows us to further perfect the entry process for greater uniformity, while streamlining data flows to achieve the most efficient Customs entry possible. The SCE model is built on a foundation of three T’s: technology, training, and transparency.
Technology: Shapiro’s system is built to capture inaccuracies, missing data elements, and inconsistencies. Our expert programmers build custom data bridges to receive your documentation and shipping information electronically whenever possible.
Training: Modern compliance is as dynamic as it is comprehensive; Shapiro builds our training to match the rapid pace of change with recurrent, multi-faceted employee education. Our licensed Customs brokers comprise 1/3 of Shapiro’s staff!
Transparency: Whether your shipment is at the port, in transit or stuck in a Customs exam, we provide customers with 24/7 access to real-time tracking via our Shapiro 360° portal. Our trained and licensed entry specialists also communicate with you, our customer, every step of the way.
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) is U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) system designed to facilitate legitimate trade while also enhancing border security. The ACE system provides:
- A single, centralized window to connect CBP and Partner Government Agencies to members of the trade community.
- Rapid clearance while reducing paper use and minimizing costs.
To make the best use of ACE, you need experienced Customs broker to ensure the right forms are submitted or uploaded accurately and timely. Reach out to us below to get started!
Regulatory Compliance Consulting
Regulatory compliance is not a suggestion, it’s a mandate. There are steep fines, potential business shutdowns and even personal liabilities involved with infractions. Don’t try to navigate this minefield alone; find the right Customs broker and trade consultant for your business.
Shapiro has earned a reputation based on our integrity and expertise as Customs advisers, so let us jump those steep regulatory hurdles while you focus on winning the race.
We offer assistance with the following, to list only a few:
- Post Entry Services
- Free Trade Zones
- Trade Agreements
- ACH and PMS
We’re obsessive about every detail of your shipments and your international Customs brokerage needs.
HTS Classification & Binding Rulings
What is your product? What is it made of? What is the intended use? What is the common name of the product? Should I use the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSA), or the International HTS to research product descriptions and applicable duty rates?
Classification questions can be daunting; this is exactly why CBP recommends against do-it-yourself use of the HTS classification system and also why robo-classifications (classifications performed by computers, programs and software systems) tend to be accurate less than 50% of the time!
Incomplete descriptions or classification errors are costly mistakes that can result in additional duties, delayed cargo release and penalties. There’s no need to hazard a guess or encounter an inaccurate classification performed by software when you partner with Shapiro’s seasoned Customs experts.
At Shapiro, we’re big believers in eliminating time-consuming redundancies and keystroke errors by trading all mandatory information electronically whenever possible. While we might throw shade at robo-classifications, we do also recognize the sunny side of streamlining processes via technology and automation. This is why we have developed our best in class(ification) system, Shapiro’s Classification Advisory Module.
Importer Security Filing (ISF)
When importing, ocean shipments require timely, accurate ISF filing. If you want to avoid ISF penalties, you need to be sure to cover all the bases, such as understanding the nuances of CBP’s “10+2” regulation.
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about learning those details when you work with us, because we’ve already done it for you! We are expert Customs agents who treat your shipments with the same rigor we would use if the cargo were our own.
Partner Government Agency (PGA) Filing
U.S. Customs works hand-in-hand with many other agencies—including the USDA, the FDA, the EPA, the Department of the Treasury and more—to guarantee all shipments comply with the unique regulations of each agency.
Shapiro’s expertise and skill-based knowledge navigate the choppy waters muddied by Customs regulations and government agencies to guarantee your shipment sails through without needless delays so that you and your business stay afloat.
How to Crack the HTS Code on Product Classifications
Want to learn more about product classification and HTS codes? Look no further! In this blog, we run through the basics of HTS codes, tariff engineering, product classification, and more!
