Since 9-11 the import landscape has been in a continuous state of flux. U.S. import company leaders must keep up with rules and regulations. The enormous responsibility of U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection has become even greater as these professionals work to keep our country safe every day overseeing goods shipped into the United States from all over the world. 

Our nation’s security is at the forefront of many of these rules with U.S. Customs implementing several changes over the years. A great place for first-time importers to start research to learn the ins and outs of importing is the U.S. Customs and Boarder protection website. The site includes:

• Licensing requirements.
• A searchable FAQ for first-time importers.
• Quota information for various shipments.
• Detailed contact information for U.S. ports of entry.
• Shipment search information (yes, your shipment can be randomly searched).
• Information how to find licensed customs brokers (Cargo Services is on this list).

Depending on the import shipment, consulting a freight forwarder to insure your shipment is correctly handled port-to-port is always a smart business decision.