Practice Areas
Experienced US Customs Law Experts
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin
When it comes to goods entering the country, U.S. Customs enforces strict mandates for other agencies. Importers must be compliant with complex rules and regulations that apply to their specific products.
U.S. Customs is also one of the few agencies where decisions about classifications and duties tendered on shipments are made upfront. Without pre-importation planning, a shipment could be held up at the border, delaying the delivery of products to customers. Duties, taxes, and delays increase. While representing a few percentage points, an importer could see costs rise to the thousands, if not millions of dollars.
Duties for imports are a great source of revenue for the U.S. government. However, they undermine hard work and impact an importer’s bottom line. Misclassification of products is common. There is little to no downside for the government to be wrong, especially if a dispute is not resolved.
Employing a proactive approach with the help of a customs lawyer can benefit an importer’s bottom line. Since 1933, the law firm of Stein Shostak Shostak Pollack & O’Hara, LLP, has helped clients with vital and cost-saving pre-importation planning, including obtaining pre-importation rulings from Customs. Pre-importation rulings provide clarity and certainty which allow importers to accurately predict the cost of their goods.
Taking on a powerful bureaucracy requires the help of experienced customs law attorneys who have earned the respect of U.S. Customs officials and international trade community members. Pre-importation planning is the “ounce of prevention” importers need.
Pre-importation planning and duty disputes
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is one of the few agencies where an importer can obtain a binding decision prior to importation. Pre-importation planning can prevent adverse decisions after goods are imported, and it is vital in order to avoid problems, save money and provide certainty.
Export law
We work with companies to determine if their products and components are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. commerce and state departments.
Customs seizures, detentions and penalties
A large part of our practice involves merchandise seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Violations of customs and other federal laws can lead to seizure, forfeiture and subsequent penalties. The most minor issue can have major consequences to importers.
Tariff Classification and Customs Valuation
Disputes concerning the proper rate of duty may only represent a few percentage points, but those differences can cost millions of dollars. We assist clients in finding the most favorable duty rates allowable under law.
Free Trade Agreement Qualification
Free trade agreements can provide easy access to export goods to a foreign country and import products into the United States. However, the rules are strict, and minor mistakes can result in disqualification. We help clients navigate the requirements necessary to take advantage of free trade agreements.
Customs Broker, Bonded Warehouse and Foreign Trade Zone
Heavy government regulations govern import and export professionals and companies. They need experienced and trusted legal counsel to navigate them through a complex series of “do’s” and “don’ts.”
Experience matters when it comes to complex customs trade law. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys.