Customs Brokers – Partners for Success
Every product you import into the United States needs to be identified with a tariff classification number. The tariff classification indicates the duty rate you will pay. The classification is also used to review the country of origin, along with the product type, to see if the item is impacted by any quotas or embargoes. Determining the proper tariff number is not an easy task and is best left to a professional who is knowledgeable in this discipline — the customs broker.
Once you have done some preliminary research and know the product you are importing based on profitability, and the country with which you intend to import from, you’re ready to find a customs broker.
Refer to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website to locate a broker. This page provides a listing of all U.S. ports sorted by state. Click Trade in the top bar; then click Locate a Port of Entry under Resources. Select a state, and then a city, and the resulting page will include key port information and key contacts. You will see a link “Brokers: View List” which will give you a great starting point.
In a quick phone call to a customs broker, you can explain which item you intend to import, give a description of the materials made in manufacturing the item, and name the country you intend to import from. The broker will assist you in narrowing down a tariff number with relative ease, and there is typically no charge for this phone call.
Customs brokers look up tariff classifications all day long. If they have a relationship established with a business, answering a question like this is quick and part of the service they provide their clients. If you are new to importing, most brokers will gladly assist in your early education for no charge; they see it as an investment to gain your future business.
Import duties, quotas, and embargoes can change from time to time and can have a big impact on how you negotiate your offshore buying price, as well as how to set your selling price. This step should not be overlooked and should be completed before you begin contacting manufacturers — or certainly before you begin negotiating your buy price.
