Blue Star Compliance, LLC

07/19/2018

The BelugaXL's paint job "features beluga whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin." For several hours on Thursday, the whale soared over southern France.

07/13/2018

Is your bond sufficient? Do not let an insufficient bond hold up your import shipment with Customs.

Import Bonds in the Crossfire of Trade Wars - A Complimentary Webinar

07/13/2018

MOL announced that 20,000 TEU containership, MOL Truth, one of the world's largest containerships, has received the "Ship of the Year 2017" award from the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean…

06/30/2018

The Canadian Department of Finance has listed it's countermeasures in response to the additional U.S tax imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Follow the link below for the list.

Countermeasures in Response to Unjustified Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum Products

06/20/2018

The United States released a semi-final list of 1,102 Chinese products on Friday that would be subject to a 25% tariff.
Below is the link to the products that will be affected beginning July 6, 2018:

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/List%201.pdf

Products awaiting comment for future anti- dumping duties found here:
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/List%202.pdf

06/12/2018

This post contains external links. Please review our external linking policy. Susan Crawford is the communications specialist for the U.S. Commercial Service’s Global Healthcare Team. The U.S. Comm…

06/05/2018

Information from Roanoke Trade:

All steel and aluminum articles imported from the following countries are subject to the Section 232 Import Duties as of June 1,2018

Steel:
All countries of origin except Argentina, Australia, Brazil and South Korea
All steel products must be classified under 9903.80.01 (25% percent) in addition to reporting under Chapters 72 and 73.

Aluminum:
All countries of origin except Argentina and Australia
All aluminum products must be classified under 9903.85.01 (10% percent) in addition to reporting under Chapter 76.

Based on the general increase in the estimated duty for steel and aluminum products,these products may require larger bonds as the continuous bond amount is calculated on 10% of the total duties, taxes, and fees for the previous 12 months.

In addition to the Section 232 duties CSMS #18-000372 also advises as of June 1, 2018, all steel and aluminum products imported from the following countries are subject to the Section 232 Absolute Quota:

Steel: Argentina, Brazil and South Korea
Aluminum: Argentina

Check with your insurance provider to verify your bond amounts are sufficient.

05/13/2018

Are you engaged in e-commerce?

E-commerce shipments sent via express courier or the postal service to the U.S. from another country are subject to the same import rules and regulations as cargo freight. Although many express courier shipments are low value and are cleared under the Deminimis rule (below $800 USD) some products require a formal entry and may require additional fees and forms.

With the opening of the CBP E-commerce and Small Business branch within the Office of Trade, the Branch is developing strategic goals and objectives to allow CBP to better address the challenges in the e-commerce environment now and in the future.

Contact us! We can help you determine whether or not a formal entry is required and what forms may be needed for clearance.

05/12/2018

CBP has posted the April 2018 exam answers.

05/08/2018

Tip of the day -

Most products that qualify for a free trade agreement are exempt from paying the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) of .3464% except for products from Jordan, Morocco, Egypt and West Bank, Gaza.
Also, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) data processing equipment (criteria E) that is not eligible to be marked as MX or CA country of origin will require the MPF payment of .3464%

04/29/2018

Preliminary answers for the April 2018 Broker Exam. These are NOT the official answers from CBP.

1 C 111.28(b)
2 C 111.45(b)
3 D 111.28(b)(ii)
4 D 111.30(d)
5 B 111.1, 18.11(b)
6 C 24.3e
7 C 111.11(c)(2)
8 D Appendinx C to Part 171, XI, C, 4
9 A GRI 1
10 C HTSUS Appendix C
11 A 24.24(a) 49,167 x 0.00125 + 61.46
12 A 0703.20.0015 25,719 kgs * 0.43c/kg = 11,059.17 cents * 100 = $110.59
13 B A-570-831 at 0.06 / kg 25,719 * 0.06 = 1,543.14
14 E 141.69(b)
15 D 7501 Instructions block 39
16 E
17 B 113.13(d)
18 D 141.68
19 D 25.00 + 139.15 + 3,878.28
20 C 132.5
21 E 162
22 C HTS GN 3(f)(i)
23 C GN 3(e)(v)
24 A
25 D Right to Make Entry Directives
26 B 143.21(g)
27 C 145.2
28 C
29 A GN 3(e)
30 C
31 C GRI 3 C
32 D GRI 1 Mosaic Cubes - Glazed
33 E Ch 49 note 1(d)
34 B
35 B
36 D
37 D Ch62 add US Note 3(a)
38 C Ch 62 Add US Note 3
39 E
40 A Zoris style plugs
41 D Main chemical is Fungicide put up for trtail sale
42 D Ch33 Note 2
43 A Eo Nominee Non-Woven Fabric
44 C Section XVI Note 3; composite machine to be classified as component that performs principle function
45 C 152.103(b)
46 C 152.103(e)
47 E 152.103(j)
48 D Ch 98 HTS
49 A 152.103(a)
50 A 152.103 - 500 + 40 - 10 = 530
51 D 191.72
52 D 191.52(c)
53 B 191.51
54 B 133.21 and 133.23
55 D 133.21(b)(2)
56 A 133.22c
57 C 133.23 acquired the domestic title to us it means that imported is authorized
58 C 12.39(b)(2)
59 B 113.65(a)
60 D 113.27c
61 D 113.69
62 D 181.12(a)
63 A 181.22(c)
64 C GN13
65 D Chapter 27 NATFA rules, Heading Rule for 2710, Rule 4(B)
66 C Appendinx C to Part 171, Seciton VII, E
67 A 171.1(d)
68 D 171.42
69 C 171.2(b)
70 D 146.92(a)
71 E 146.44(a)
72 A 19.1(a)(4)
73 B 146.22
74 D 134.32(f) and 134.33
75 E 134.11
76 E 134.4
77 E 134.33
78 A 111.23(b)
79 B 141.34
80 C 141.32

04/25/2018

Good luck to everyone taking the Customs Broker Exam today!